Running

By James Davis, Senior at Grace Calvary

For me, running is a prayer. The repetitive motions require little thinking and strip away all the external barriers preventing me from connecting to God. When I’m running there isn’t space in me to worry about external things because I am so focused on breathing, and being in the moment. I connect to God when I am in the moment, not worried about school, relationships, or responsibilities. I run because those things are stripped away leaving me with only myself and God. 

Today Father Sam talked about nurturing our relationship with the Divine. He called us to do so outside of coming to church or youth by finding things that connect us. He called us to do anything that made us feel as though we could be close to God and caused us to bring that spirit out into the world. This could be gardening, running, singing, dancing, or even something as simple as going outside and looking at what the world has to offer. 

For me finding God outside of church is almost as important as going on Sunday mornings. To be honest some mornings I’m just not feeling up to going to church, but I am feeling like a good run. I use the run to fill myself up just like I would the service. And then throughout the week if I am running it is another opportunity to stay filled until I can get back to church. I encourage you to find ways to stay filled and to stay connected. Find things that fill you up so you can be poured out again into the world. 

Eric Liddell said “Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.” This quote has always stuck with me and after this Sunday it has new meaning. Go find what fills you and embrace it.