I look at my Garmin watch as the mileage and time tick away. The horizon keeps my attention. Sometimes I watch the clouds roll into different creatures and shapes. I have landmarks that I anticipate as I near them. Pot holes, big rocks, and ruts...I constantly scan the path before me in order to stay injury free.
Just like a good pair of running shoes, well cushioned socks, and that trusty watch, my eyes are a necessity to a good run. I need to see where I am going. I need to watch where I plant my feet.
This past weekend, the last of the three kids made her way to the elementary state cross country meet. We were all so excited for the youngest Thomas. She packed up her singlet, shorts, spikes, and the must-have knee high running socks and had Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville in her sights. Sadie and her fellow teammates were ready to run!
If I told you that the day was a perfect day for a run, I'd be lying. It was cold; fall had finally decided to descend upon middle and east Tennessee. It was back and forth between a mist and a moderate rain. The ground was saturated.
But 485 third through sixth grade girls came to run, and run they did. Through the mud...through the wet, slick grass...through the puddles...all 485 girls ran.
Watching cross country meets is like no other sport of which I have been a spectator. You can't help but cheer for each and every one of the runners. I find myself telling kids I have never seen before to keep moving and finish strong. Saturday was no different. As a few of us hugged the rope and watched for our three runners to descend down the last hill toward the finish line, we joined in with hundreds of others with shouts of encouragement and excitement.
As we were cheering, my attention was drawn to one particular runner. She was about Sadie's age. The first thing I noticed about her was a mechanism that was strapped to her chest. A strap extended away from that mechanism and that strap was being held by her coach, who was running right alongside her. It took me a moment to realize what was happening.
She was blind. She was running blind, listening intently and trusting the words of her coach, telling her exactly what to expect and where to plant the next step.
"I can see the finish line. You are almost there. You can do this!"
faith, noun: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
So many times us Christians talk a big game about our faith. We talk about how it is so courageous to believe without seeing. But do we really run our race that way? Is faith really just believing without seeing? Or is it running blind, trusting completely in someone else?
There is a big difference in "believe in God" and "believing God". Many of us say we have faith because we believe in God...that He exists and that we acknowledge Him as our savior. But do we truly believe what He says and does that show in how we live our lives?
Proverbs 3, beginning in verse 5, taken from The Message...
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!
A few years ago I thought I was totally in control of everything. If there was a problem, I knew I could fix it. I made extremely detailed plans and "to do" lists in order to make sure things went just perfectly. I believed I had it all together. There was no trust or confidence in anyone or anything other than myself.
I was prideful. I was arrogrant. I was wrong.
But we serve a loving and jealous God. I am glad that He intervened, even though it was hard and messy and even sad at times.
There is a peace that comes from not trying to figure everything out on your own. Slowly but surely I have started listening to see if God shows up in all the things I do and all the places I go. Sure enough He does! Every. single. time. As I run, as long as I am running toward Him and away from evil, He keeps me on track. But running toward Him means not only listening and believing, but it also means doing what He says.
My brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but does nothing, his faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save him? A brother or sister might need clothes or might need food. And you say to him, "God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat." You say this but you do not give that person the things he needs. Unless you help him, your words are worth nothing. It is the same with faith. If faith does nothing, then that faith is dead, because it is alone.
Someone might say, "You have faith, but I do things. Show me your faith! Your faith does nothing. I will show you my faith by the things I do."
James 2:14-18, ICB
If He says run right; then run right. If He says run through the mud; then run through the mud. If He says feed the hungry; then feed the hungry. If He says spend some time with the not-so-easy friend down the street; then spend the time. If He says turn the other cheek; then turn the other cheek. If He says go; then you better go. If He tells you to do something that you don't want to do...maybe it doesn't fit in your plan; then do it any way.
Complete trust. Complete confidence. Complete obedience.
One thing is for sure...He will never tell you to do nothing. He won't tell you to just sit on a pew a few hours a week. He is calling for an active faith. One that keeps us running. And there is no need to run with our eyes wide open. We can even run blind.
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