beWARM

When it comes to outdoor activities, running is not my strong suit. Traversing these Santa Fe hills  – and one can’t avoid them – is enough to make me feel like a real slug. At times my legs feel more like two dead planks than ambulation assistants.

However, to embrace this blue-sky sunshine day, Joey and I set out to log in a few miles.  Thankfully, he is accepting when I need to stop and walk a bit, always turning back to rejoin me.

This pattern has become an unspoken agreement between us. At long last, I have peace with it, for there was a time when I spent so much time bemoaning  my lack of running speed and strength that I failed to enjoy the movement itself.

A couple of years ago, God gave me a realization that has helped me gain a new perspective on these types of situations.  He showed me that I should be “content with” rather than feel “less than“.

A simple concept – with a myriad of applications, all of which bring a sense of appreciation…and also, freedom from being bound by expectation. (our own, as well as others)

This is not to say that we should never challenge ourselves. But just applying this attitude to running has helped me enjoy the process and the surroundings (as well as the company of my husband) without any self-measuring or criticism.  Ah…the freedom of taking a “granny stop” when I am sucking wind!

Today’s run had a musical component as well.  God often speaks to me through song – but  that’s another topic entirely. (more on that later)  Prior to heading outside, I was practicing songs to accompany a vocal music class at the New Mexico School for the Arts.

Working with the high school students is so enjoyable.  Performing for their peers – and receiving constructive criticism –  is a new experience for them, and one that is anxiety producing.  This takes me back to my days in music school; I empathize with them. Little by little, they are gaining confidence, and you can hear it in their music  – and they feel good.

But back to today’s music. As I played You’ll Never Walk Alone from the musical Carousel, my eyes welled up as I remembered loving this song so much when I was a child. It’s message is so hopeful, comforting.

When Jerry Lewis sang this every year at the end of his Muscular Dystrophy telethon, I sobbed.

This familiar melody resounded with fresh significance today. In my younger  years, God wasn’t in my mental picture of “never walking alone”.  I’m not sure exactly who I thought was in step alongside me – but I never connected those dots.

Running today, the melody and lyrics kept playing  in my head like a broken record.  No ipod necessary…the Muzak just kept rolling. And what inspiring thoughts – “walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams are tossed and blown….walk on, walk on,with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone”

God cares not if we run or walk. He’s not about clocking our mileage – He doesn’t measure us against anyone else. He loves us for who we are – just the way we are.

Let us be content with walking on in hope and faith, fully accepted and loved by God.  He will keep our pace – infinitely. And, if we get lost on the trail, He will come back to find us.

He will never let us walk through life alone.