Staying on Track

Rizen Swain

I found myself struggling to write about what God is revealing to me. To be completely honest, more than likely it is because I have been running. And when I say running, I mean that literally. Along with running, I have been adjusting to virtual reality at the workplace, changes in the world due to COVID 19, the passing of my father and not being to have a ceremony for him, a break up with the man my father warned me about(at first I was too big, then I was too skinny, now I’m not concerned about what he thinks about my appearance.) More adjusting includes the cleaning out and prospective selling of my childhood home, realizing my mother is 76 years old and I am 26 (making it way before my time to be the sandwich generation), and much more. The last 8 months of 2020 has changed monthly but week by week, and day by day I notice that no matter how far I go, how much I change, and no matter what changes around me, God ‘s love doesn’t. Running is not for everyone and to be honest I don’t enjoy it as much as I attempt to do it. However, I still run because I know the benefits of taking out the time to care for myself. Even in the midst of a pandemic.

Romans 5:3-4
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Jesus tells us to care for ourselves. When I can’t run, I walk. In fact, what I label a mile of running is more walking than anything. Sometimes I speed it up because I know that the “push” will make a difference in my attempt to live a healthier life. I feel good after the attempt because I know I made the decision to be better. To “Go the extra mile.” For instance, I usually complete a mile on the track, but today I pushed and went two miles! The tricky part is getting up tomorrow and doing it again. It is easy for one to be hard on themselves but the reason why I am hard on myself is because I am running for my life. Taking care of ourselves also means taking care of our spiritual lives.

Proverbs 4:25
“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

I know there are other people in this world running for their lives and it may not be on a track. It could be at a job, the bar, living out your dreams through your children or even at your cousin or best friend’s house avoiding your family members because you are just tired. Many of us are chasing a desire that we have not given to God to give us! We are running with no vision and God has made it known we need to slow down. We can’t do everything on our own. God wants us to run for him and not for ourselves. He will take care of the obstacles.

Habakkuk 2:2-3
“Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”

Running may be a form of a way that I take care of myself, but what worse is when I am focused on the goal more than the process. This is because I end up being sore in the long run when I don’t take out the time to stretch and prepare for the run. Before changing my lifestyle I prepared for it by consulting with experts and it is always suggested to stretch! The mile I complete feels good post running, but the morning after is rough when I don’t take that advice. This can also relate to when we make quick decisions without preparation better known as PUTTING GOD FIRST. When God is first, we have a vision to chase. Otherwise, there is nothing ahead.

Hebrews 12: 1
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every eight, and the sin which so easily ensnare us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

During my run today I realized that I may be getting off track. I say this because things are changing around me and some acknowledge how good it is! They tell me I should be grateful and they are correct! A good way to know that we are off track is when others are seeing the results, we desire in us but we don’t feel it! Glory to God that they see what he is doing in our lives, but if we don’t see it how much longer can we outstand the race? The person with the desire is the one who knows what God expects of them. God wants us to run for him. Just like how he wanted And with transparency I can safely say that my accountability partners are right. I thank God for his constant love and Jesus for his sweat, tears and blood for the mercy he has given me. I actually don’t have to sweat my stress away by running. In fact, I won’t have a better chance of a healthier life if Jesus is not in it. If I am not chasing or running toward him then what is my goal? To be complimented by the world? To be noticed and loved for the wrong reasons? I thank God for salvation and the running that Jesus did for me. I am taking the time to slow down and that comes with also thanking the Most High for my loved ones who continue to show me love and hold me accountable so that I may not fall off track in this race called LIFE.