Sadness … not much to share

I don’t have much to share today. I’ve read many encouragements on twitter to get out and run today with one of your race shirts on for Boston. I was going to rest today, but felt this nagging to get out in my neighborhood and run. I wore my one and only race shirt.

No one really saw me other than a neighbor and a few dogs. But, it gave me three miles worth of time to think and pray for so many hurting. My heart felt lighter .… one of the reasons why I and so many others run!! My eyes were lifted up to God in prayer and in Him I found peace, hope, rest, and trust that He knows!!

I will never understand tragedy like this … there are no answers to the why’s … but I will trust and I will put my hope in a faithful God who does.

I read a blog today and she expressed so well how I and so many are feeling – undone. Check it out from Dimity from Another Mother Runner.

http://anothermotherrunner.com/2013/04/15/undonebostonmarathon/

Praying for so much tonight and so many and trusting in a God of comfort, of strength, of grace in the midst of life,

Patty 🙂

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Running in the Rain . . .

It’s been such lovely weather here in the foothills of Northern California – perfect running weather, not too hot and not to cold – happy for me!!!

Today it is a rainy day.

I had a choice to make – to run or not to run . . .

I still have my goal of 30 miles a week . . .  I had planned every run and knew I needed to get my 5 miles in today or, heaven forbid, I run under the allotted mileage.  Do I have a problem . . . possibly.  🙂

It stopped raining and I thought I had my opportunity, got all dressed in long tights, a couple of layers just in case it started raining and looked outside and, yes, it was raining again.  I made the choice to run anyway.  Put my windbreaker on, which will keep me a bit dryer, put my hat on and out the door I went.  It was just sprinkling and I actually enjoyed the freshness of the cool air.  It started raining much harder as I ran . . . but I didn’t care . . . I was already wet and I was outside and I was running!!

Rain does create obstacles to run around through!!

oops!!

God just seems to lighten my heart when I get out in His creation and exert myself . . . whether it be running or biking or hiking . . . just plain moving is all it takes.

I was reminded of the different seasons in my life that have been difficult to walk through, yet God was always there.

I was reminded of how my view in the midst of the difficult season was clouded,  with emotions running wild, not seeing clearly . . .  

. . . kind of like this . . .

The rain blocks us from seeing clearly . . . can you tell what I’m looking at in the above picture?

But look . . . I can see clearly!!!

The cool thing is that God sees the whole picture of our lives clearly!!

He knows the beginning, the middle, and the end . . . He is always right there with me in the midst of my unclearness, my rain, my difficulty . . .

I realized I can run in the rain (through difficulties) much easier when I remember . . .

. . . the faithfulness of God in my life in the midst of the rain 

. . . the times He held me up when I couldn’t stand

. . . when He surrounded me with friends that loved me in the midst of the rain 

In remembering . . . I have strength to go forward and ‘run in the rain’ with a great God who never leaves me and has never forsaken me.

As I write this, my heart is heavy for those who are in the midst of rainy – difficult, impossible, heart-wrenching – times. 

My prayer is that they, as well as all of us, have  grace for this moment in time that God has given each one of us.  Grace to take the next step, trusting in the One who knows it all.  Grace to remember all that God has done in their/our past and is doing and will do.

Philippians 4:14 “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

I’m learning to run in the rain . . . and enjoying the journey

Patty 🙂

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