It occurred to me while walking/running the last couple of mornings -
So here is how I roll: I start out with a route and a goal in mind. Now if you have ever done anything with me, you may have noticed that I don't pull out of the driveway unless I know
"the plan."
I have never meandered well. Not that there's anything wrong with meandering...it's just not my style. Give me a goal, I will find it on the map and I will get there in the most efficient way possible!
....but what have I missed by reading the road map so very carefully?
I guess I don't really know....
....because I missed it.
When I run, I lock my eyes on a goal and determine to reach that spot and then slow to a walk for a bit. I noticed in running that I concentrate on two things, the goal and my feet. As I approach the goal, I decide I can make it just a bit further, so I put on foot in front of the other, find another goal, and do it again. What have I seen along the way? Not a thing....just the goal.
In slowing down to walk and catch my breath, I saw a mother bird carrying a long piece of wild grass in her beak headed to her goal: nest building.
I noticed a gorgeous butterfly bush that I had never seen - I love butterfly bushes and wondered why I hadn't seen it on this regular trail I take. The answer was clear - I was looking past it, to my goal.
Walking past a rundown yard, I spied an old kids swingset lying on its side and my mind wandered as I began the invent the story in my mind, of the children who used to play on it. I imagine the goal for those children was sheer joy!
Shite in the path......
So, I was going to leave it at that and lament that I haven't stopped to breathe in life enough.... but today as I was running I was trying to see if I could run AND look at the same time. I rushed past a type of cactus that was blooming, but didn't get a good look or have time to wonder about it, I heard a very interesting whistle from a bird, but it was forgotten as fast as I heard it. I also tried to turn around and look behind me and almost wiped out.
So, while I slowed to a walk and wondered at God's beauty, and I turned around to look at the 5:30 sunrise.... I almost stepped in it.... a big, fresh pile of dog shite (that's British for the nasty word...)
When my children were small, I would tell them that when I said STOP - I wanted them to stop dead in their tracks. I did NOT count. Why? Because they may be playing and having a great time, but I saw the Mac truck down the road and if I counted to three, while giving them a chance to stop, they may get hit.
You see, they were enjoying their little world full of wonder - and I loved that. But I was scanning their paths for "bumps."
Part of the looking towards the goal is also looking for bumps or things in the path that may cause me to stumble. In my "run toward the goal" mode, I scan the path for dog and horse shite, gum, glass, and people walking their dogs. I am able to gauge my run to avoid the things that will slow or trip me and clear out of the path of an oncoming dog or horse.
You could say I have a wider perspective.
Sure, I still need to look at the small radius that is around me...but I guess a balance is what works the best.
So, I will be thankful for my own personality and appreciate the diversity in which God created us all.
A scripture I recently discovered is in Galatians 5. It says, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?" What it said to me is that I was doing okay until I started listening to other people telling me I should be like them. So now, I say to them...
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