November 17

Proverbs 4: 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Walking and running were essential activities and thereby a familiar image to the Disciples and the early followers of Jesus. Running was certainly familiar to the Apostle Paul who, as a Hellenized Jew, likely had experience with the Greek ‘gymnasium’ and the concept of spirited and ‘spiritual’ competition. In fact, it was Paul, who spent most of his life after his conversion experience racing around the ancient near east building churches whilst at the same time trying to out run the Roman authorities, who has given us some of the most familiar running metaphors found in the New Testament: You were running a good race, who cut in on you and kept you from seeking the Truth? (Galatians 5:30); Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)

While running and walking were a fact of life for the early Christians, for us in the 21^st century it is a choice (sadly, one that not nearly enough people chose) to pursue an active lifestyle. When we do chose an active life we should remember that our abilities, regardless of how great or small they might be, are a gift from God. A gift that we can use to better ourselves to pursue wisdom as the passage from Proverbs urges us; to find the strength we need to not let others cut us off in our pursuit of Truth; and, to provide us with the fortitude that our faith requires if we are to persevere in our race to share God’s promise with others.

Lord, thank you for the joy of running, thank you for the gifts of strong bodies and open minds that we might learn and grow strong in our faith and our commitment; help us to not “run our race in vain” but always seek to further your victory in our lives and in the world around us.  Amen.