I’m not sure you could categorize me as a runner. I’ve only run one 5k & i’m getting to run my second. Special thanks to my sister for being my running inspiration. She’s already an accomplished runner. Maybe one day I’ll be like her! But running has taught me a few things about the struggle of life that I don’t want to forget. Here’s what I’m learning. It really all comes down to this…
“Don’t STOP: Run to the next mailbox.”
Running for me has been as much about becoming healthy mentally & spiritually as it has been physically. It’s a great way for me to deal with stress & connect with God. I often listen to worship music when I run, spend time in prayer, or listen to podcasts from some of my favorite speakers/preachers. But running in my neighborhood isn’t the easiest thing. It seems that no matter which way I go I spend the majority of my time running uphill! I think this is because we live in Atlanta. I never knew how many hills were in Atlanta until we moved here 6 years ago.
Over the past several months as I’ve been trying to become a runner, I’ve learned several things about endurance & perseverance during difficult times. There are many moments during my morning or evening run when I would rather just stop & walk the rest of the way home. And this would be so easy to do. Because at the end of every block there’s a huge red sign screaming at me to “STOP!” Seriously, running in my neighborhood could be so discouraging. With all the hills & Stop signs at every corner — I don’t know how I go on! But here’s what I’ve done. I’ve adopted a mentality that says, “Don’t STOP: Run to the next mailbox.”
This mentality may sound strange, but it’s become a great attitude for me to take when I’m out running around our neighborhood & in my life in general. Because sometimes life is hard. Sometimes it’s stressful. Sometimes I’d rather give up in the moment than push through with the situation or crisis I’m dealing with. But here’s what I’ve learned from running through the Stop signs onto the next mailbox that’s helped me.
1. You’re a product of what you do when you don’t want to do… unless you don’t.
It would be easy to stop, make excuses & walk on home. No one would know. No one would care. But giving up would absolutely not be in my best interest. Running for 30 minutes 2-3 days a week does so much to make me a better husband, father, minister, person… It’s part of taking care of myself that makes me more capable of taking care of others in my life I care deeply for. And i’m convinced that you & I are products of what we do when we would rather do something easier. We are products of doing the hard things. Unless we don’t ever do hard things. Then we’re the products of that — and that’s a poor product. The best products are the best because they go through a refining process, making them excellent.
2. There’s purpose in the process.
For gold to become pure, perfect & beautiful it has to pass through the fire. It’s hot. But there’s purpose in the process. Sometimes I think we would rather skip the process & get to the end result. But there really are no shortcuts in life. To get the end result we want we have to walk through the process. Do hard things. To have the marriage we want, the kids we want, the job we want, the friendships we want, the health we want, we have to do the hard things that bring that desired end result. But don’t forget, there’s purpose in the process as well. Sometimes the quickest way for God to get us from point A to point B is to lead us through a difficult time. Be attentive to what God is doing in you in the process before you reach the end result.
3. Choosing to do what’s right in the moment changes everything.
Making the small choices to do, to take positive action, in the moment changes everything. To not make that choice is making a choice. It’s just making a poor choice.
So look past the Stop signs. The distance between mailboxes is short – you can make it. Remember that the hard times are momentary. The reward lasts. And even when the crisis is huge remember – we know how this story ends. There’s something that happens when we live with an eternal perspective that changes everything. Live that way today. Don’t Stop. You can make it to the next mailbox.
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