Little legs + short stride x (45 years + 9 months + 12 days) = S.L.O.W. (Serious Lack Of Wind).

     Along about mid-March of this year I decided to start running to train for the Camp Luz 5K which was in June. I was painfully slow at first (I caught a breeze from a passing tortoise). Five weeks of training and I ran my first cross country 5K in a little more than 12 minutes a mile. Not fast by any means. But I beat the guy pushing his daughter and tiny dog in a stroller.

     Over the summer I ran at 6 am; wearing my bright yellow safety vest, carrying a spray bottle of pepper spray, and with a couple of dog biscuits in my pocket for the neighbor’s dog. And there was that triathlon I did in July (ran 5 miles, biked 10, splash boated a ways) to raise money for my kids’ mission trip (see their blog on the right side). I don’t particularly like running and I’m not training for any races. But its exercise and it gets me outside. And my chiropractor is proud of me. I keep waiting for something called a runner’s high; the only time I’ve experienced it is when I set foot on my driveway and stop running.

     But I’ve never gotten any faster (the formula in the title is my excuse). I have some Facebook friends who are runners. They post their run length and time…and it all taunts me because I am so much slower than EVERYONE. (Except that tortoise; I have passed it by.) It’s downright depressing. Then I remind myself that I need to stop comparing myself to other people.

     There will always be someone taller, stronger, prettier, smarter, faster, wealthier, more clever, more artistic, with more/less stuff, happier, better at math, better at remembering song lyrics, etc., etc. That is a partial list of comparisons I have made in my life. I’m sure there have been more, but I can’t remember them…

     I am God’s work(wo)manship, and He don’t make no junk. So, my little legs and slow running time are of no consequence. “I yam what I yam.” Popeye (possibly quoting Paul of Tarsus…look it up, 1 Cor 15:10).

At least I’m moving.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

A Prayer for Living Water

Heavenly Father,

Giver of Peace, Giver of Living Water that gushes forth from the soul

filled from the river that flows forth from

 the throne of God and of the Lamb. . . .

We worship You!

We confess that we do not always remember

that Your river does not divide two places,

but gives an invitation to all to;

“Come!  Drink from the water and be restored to God and to each other!” 

Forgive us and remind us that by the shores of Your river

we find healing, hope and peace.

We thank You!

Having dived and swum and drunk and splashed in Your river,

we emerge, drenched with Your Presence! 

We have responded to the call to

“Come” and we now respond to the call to

“Go!  Invite others” -

“Go!  Make others thirsty for the pure and holy Water of Life”!

We praise You!

We go out with joy and are led forth with peace;

singing and clapping our hands,

for we shall never thirst again

 through Jesus our Lord,

 AMEN.