Runner's World and the Gospel

Im not a great runner. But I run. Sometimes. When I'm motivated. Mainly by new tunes on my IPOD... or the growing amount of time I must spend doing lounges in my jeans before they stretch out a little.

Ran a half marathon a few years ago. Im bragging, I know. But the bragging, I feel, is acceptable considering the amount of pain I was in afterwards. Problem was, I tried to run the race without training properly. BIG mistake. One day I ran eight miles. Ignorantly, I believed one eight-mile run was enough to pull off 13. I was wrong. And after the race, I was hurting... hurting bad.

Patience is always required in training. Most days it seems like no progress is being made. Some days it isnt, but then again, sometimes progress is invisible. And one day you wake up and you've run 10 miles without breaking a sweat... yeah, not for me.

Read an article a while ago in Runner's World (I believe reading this magazine makes me a real runner). It talked about the importance of strengthening your "core" to improve endurance and posture, while preventing injury. Your "core" (abdomen and mid section) supports all the other muscles of the body. According to this article, as your core strengthens, all other muscles strengthen. How did I go so long without knowing this?

"The core of your body is where you derive your power; it provides the foundation for all arm and leg movements. Your core must be strong, flexible, and unimpeded in its movement to achieve maximum performance"

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I learned a few years ago that everything pertaining to the human body contains a depth of spiritual insight when compared to the Body of Christ. It is overwhlemingly obvious that we were made to be the closest living examples of LIFE in the spiritual realm. What better way to display Himself than to answer the question "Where is God?" with "Seriously, He's in you".

From the three organs absolutely vital for the existence of life, brain (Father), heart/blood (Son), and lungs/breath (Spirit) to the concept of purposeful muscles movement to the delicate senses of taste and sight and touch... not to mention the deep comparison of neurological communication to the petition/feedback mechanism that exists in the sacred act of prayer and intercession. Its there... if you allow yourself to see it. The greatest evidence of the gospel of Jesus is closer to you than the person sitting next to you. Amen, right?!

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I have continued to struggle with the temptation to become discouraged by the weight of this world... its sufferings.. its aches... its wants... the not-so-subtle reality that this is world not what was intended.

The questions remain:

How do I protect myself from the injury that the suffering of this world seeks to place upon me as I run?

Is it possible to live with a sense of power over the frailty of this mortal world?

Can I learn to walk with a posture that allows me to somehow gain endurance enough to persevere through the pain and shortness of breath?

According to Runner's World (and Jesus), the answer lies not in simply training more... forcing myself to continue the journey despite the aches that cry for me to stop. Pain is after all, the body's protective mechanism, warning the body of impending danger. It can be one of the most dangerous or most beneficial tools for gaining insight into the Body's capabilities. To ignore it is to allow for the possibility of injury; To remain sensitive to its cries, to investigate its causes, and to provide rest when rest is due, contributes to an improvement in strength and endurance.

No, the answer lies not in more running, but within this concept of strengthening the "core". As I studied this article, I began translating it into spiritual terms, asking, what is my "spiritual core"? When I become overwhelmed, what are the fundamental, scriptural truths that I must rely on for strength? When everything else seems fleeting, what do I KNOW to be truth?

If the core of my spiritual being is not being empowered or strengthened, no matter how much I want to run... or how much I want to succeed, carrying out great purposes for the kingdom of God... my body will eventually give.

So what are my "core spiritual truths"? They are non-negotiables... reminders that will enhance my strength when the aching tells me to throw in the towel.

Im making a list...stay tuned.

"Behold you desire truth in my innermost being and in the hidden parts You will make me know wisdom" Psalm 51:6