Last weekend I had the opportunity (sure...we will call it that) to run a 5k in support for cancer research. If you know anything about me, you know that I don't share my wife's passion for running. I recognize the importance and the benefits that come along with it, but have never reached that point in my life where I really look forward to going for a run. My wife was gracious enough to write out a detailed training plan that would get me to a place, physically speaking, where I would be able to complete this race without needing to stop every 150 yards.
I regret to inform you that I did not follow this training plan at all.
After all, I had completed a 10k several months ago, which apparently meant that I knew what I was doing. Training plan? For a 5k? Please. Long story short, I was indeed able to finish the race, and did so without needing to stop and walk. And while that sounds really good, I was not able to enjoy the race or the cause like those who were around me. I was terribly sore the days following, and it actually hindered my desire to run for quite some time.
As I have been reflecting—while icing my knees—this following week, God has graciously given me some insight into a few areas of my own life. Often times, God will map out a plan and loving guidelines that show me the route that he wants me to follow. Then like a good father, he lets me make the choice to follow or to not follow those guidelines he has established.
Sometimes I choose my own route from point A to point B.
The unwise route.
The one that ends up bringing me more pain.
But in the times that I have been intentional and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and have done my best to follow his guiding and directing, I've come out on the other end experiencing the satisfaction of knowing I've made it the place he intended for me.
Either way, God grows me and develops more character in me; but I have certainly found that his way is the way that would have kept me from the harm I tend to bring upon myself.
We have so many different experiences that we can draw from, giving us faith and inspiration to face future journeys. But as I look at past battles that have been won, I so easily forget that Jesus is the reason that I made it through in one piece. It's too easy to simply start walking in the direction that feels natural in our world, forgetting to invite Christ into the process of the adventure.
When I completed the 10k six months ago, I did so by following a very specific training plan that took into consideration physical and mental exercise that I would have missed if I had followed my own, well, non-training plan. Finishing that race gave me a false sense of confidence that I would be able to easily run the 5k without any sort of training guidelines or exercise. I drew from my past experience—one that had intentional instruction—and carried over this falsely confident mindset without realizing that the discipline of training is what got me through it.
I made it through the 5k, but it wasn't something that was enjoyable for me. An event like this had so much potential for life and fellowship, but because I did it my own way, I missed out on experiencing so much of that community. I'm grateful that God will still help us get from point A to point B, even when we don't follow the path laid before us.
But how much better would that journey be if we hadn't come out as mangled and injured on the other side? What if we were able to actually enjoy the race and life and family around us as we run side by side with those who are with us on the journey? Though we will still face difficulties, sore muscles and pain, a great deal of those things can be prevented by listening to the guidance of our coach.
He coaches us and guides us through a variety of different ways: scripture, prayer, dreams, prophecies, the mouths of others. And it's up to us to decide whether or not we want to recognize and follow his way as the best option, or to create our own painful way of getting from point A to point B.
Ryan
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