“Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord.” Ps. 150:6
Occasionally, there are days when I don’t need the discipline of a tune running through my head to keep me going. On those days, I let my mind drift. I pass a field of wild flowers. Their scent and beauty takes me back to my wedding day when my nieces arranged all my bouquets of flowers. I find myself praying for God's good gifts for them as I continue on. I cross a bridge where a thirty-something father in denim overalls supervises his small son’s baiting the hook. “Have you caught anything?” I ask as I pass. “A few,” he calls back. As I round the bend, I catch a glimpse of my husband, running ahead of me. He loves to fish, but this summer he has gone without it because of limited finances. My heart sends up a thank-you to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with a great man of God.
I pass children playing and a woman cutting the grass on her riding lawn mower. A teenager darts in front of me to cross the street to his mailbox. A small, yappy dog defends her house as I run by. I cross a bridge where still waters reflect the maple trees, and I remember that the Lord leads me beside still waters when I need it, and I praise Him for being a gentle Shepherd. I pass the marshy edge of a lake where birds chirrup and the cattails quiver in the gentle breeze. A gold finch, startled by my proximity, hops up and takes wing to a safe haven farther away.
As the sun begins its descent, the clouds catch its golden and red rays. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight” darts through my mind and then to Jesus’ words, “Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matt. 16:3). I wonder, then, about the times we are in. “Soon, and very soon, we are going to see the King” cycles through my mind and matches the rhythm of my feet. I mentally sing that while my breathing gets heavier as I crest another rise. As I turn the corner toward home, I echo Paul’s prayer, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
One, two; one, two. Left, right; left right. The cadence of my feet echoes off the pavement as I run, and it provides a backdrop for my thoughts. Soon those thoughts settle into well-known lyrics that match my running feet. In the beginning, a sweet, simple song like “God is so good” gives me an easy pace to get started. Then I drift into “Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In” or “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” As I start up a hill, “One Step at a Time” keeps me going when I’d rather stop and walk. I rely on these songs to take my mind off the discomfort I’m feeling and keep me going.
 |
| New flowers have come and gone all summer long. |
I pass children playing and a woman cutting the grass on her riding lawn mower. A teenager darts in front of me to cross the street to his mailbox. A small, yappy dog defends her house as I run by. I cross a bridge where still waters reflect the maple trees, and I remember that the Lord leads me beside still waters when I need it, and I praise Him for being a gentle Shepherd. I pass the marshy edge of a lake where birds chirrup and the cattails quiver in the gentle breeze. A gold finch, startled by my proximity, hops up and takes wing to a safe haven farther away.As the sun begins its descent, the clouds catch its golden and red rays. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight” darts through my mind and then to Jesus’ words, “Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matt. 16:3). I wonder, then, about the times we are in. “Soon, and very soon, we are going to see the King” cycles through my mind and matches the rhythm of my feet. I mentally sing that while my breathing gets heavier as I crest another rise. As I turn the corner toward home, I echo Paul’s prayer, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
The sky is dark enough now that the moon begins to show off its glory. I think of the words I memorized as a child, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” With red and gold threads woven on the billowing clouds, and the moon preparing the sky for nighttime beauty, I marvel at God’s handiwork. The sky and everything around me was created by God. Not only was it created, but it was created so very well.
If King David had been with me today, would he have said, “Praise the Lord with music and running”? I don’t know, but I do know that he said, “Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.” When I run, I am more aware than ever that I have breath, so I do. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of running and the music that keeps me going.
No comments:
Post a Comment