I haven’t written any running posts in a while because I haven’t run in a while. It’s been cold. Ridiculously, record-shatteringly cold. I’m not sure I remember things like air conditioning … and short sleeves … and grass. I may be exaggerating a little, but not much. But I digress.
This is how running happens for me. I run around 5 in the morning. Nobody is out, or if they are, they’re way too sleepy to notice me, or they’re busy with their own running. Perfect. I hate being cold so if it dips below 25 or 30, I don’t go out. I don’t like being wet either, so rain is a deal breaker. Oh, and treadmills make me dizzy. I don’t typically run on Saturdays, because that’s my husband’s day to run and I don’t want to go off and leave my kids asleep. I can’t use an mp3 player because I have to be able to hear killer dogs sneaking up behind me. And owls. Besides all that, I have to make sure I choose streets that are well-lit because except for about six weeks or so in the summer, it’s dark when I run.
It’s a wonder I ever get any miles logged, isn’t it? I will never be a great runner because I just do it for fun (and because exercise is good for me). If it’s not fun or satisfying, I’m not going to put the effort into it. Period.
Most of the time, I approach following Christ the very same way. I want it to be on my schedule, on my terms and at my convenience. I want it to be comfortable and satisfying without being painful and strenuous. I want to do enough to look and sound legit, especially when other followers are around.
That’s not what Christ called me to. And that’s not the call I answered.
Paul explains in Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Following Christ means I need to live by faith, not by comfort. It means I need to actively choose faith over comfort. And it means there is a great gap between where I should be and where I am.
But He loved me and He gave Himself for me, so I can’t quit. Even for a month or two. Even if it’s cold out.
(I haven’t been totally inactive. I’ve got two days left on the 30-Day Ab Challenge, which means more muscles hurt than I realized I possessed and I am the worst sit-upper ever. I’ll be glad to run again.)