Recently I’ve rejoined the world of health and fitness after many years of neglect. Years of a sedentary lifestyle have taken their toll on my mental and physical health and it became obvious that I needed to make a change. So, I’m eating better (not perfectly, but better), I’m taking more time for leisure, and I’m getting more physically active by starting a running program.
Let’s be clear on something — I’m not a runner. I don’t love running. I have never experienced a “runner’s high.” I’m not in this for the enjoyment factor. The best thing about running for me is the time efficiency and low entry cost. Get some shoes. Go outside. Run. In 20-30 minutes you’ve completed a workout and can resume your busy day knowing that you’re healthier for the effort. So, when I woke up this morning to go for my scheduled run and noticed it was raining lightly, I thought I’d just get a little wet rather than spend the extra time driving to an indoor track.
As I ran it became apparent that I had underestimated the rainfall. Quickly the rain started to saturate my hair and clothes. I began to wonder if I should just use my phone to call my husband to pick me up. But I decided to stick with my plan. After all, I wasn’t worried about messing up my hair or makeup. he workout clothes I was wearing were made to take that kind of abuse. And I was already mid-run.
As I ran, I started thinking about how this run could be a metaphor for perseverance in the spiritual life. Our call to holiness is one we have to answer regardless of the circumstances. Rain or shine, we have to show up. Persistence is important in our prayer lives, even when the rain keeps us from seeing God’s light in our life. We have to have faith that we will see His light again and that it will warm us to His Word and reveal more of Him to us. After all, God is there both in the rain and in the sunshine.
What about you? Does the rain keep you from “running the good race” at times? (2 Tim 4:7) How do you find the strength to keep running regardless of the spiritual weather?
Copyright 2017 Laura Nelson
Via Pixabay (2013), CC0 Public Domain. Text added by author.
This article was originally published at CatholicMom.com and is shared here with permission.
