Born To Run

My exercise habits are taking an interesting turn of events.  If you knew me at all during and post-college, you knew I was a morning person when it came to working out.  I was the one up at 5:30 off for a walk or jog, rain or shine, mp3 player cranked up and blasting anything from Steven Curtis Chapman to Evanescence to Les Miserables.  Marriage, two ugly bouts of mono, and two kids later have me in a different place.

When on earth did I begin enjoying jogging at night?

There is something cathartic about taking out the stress and tension of the day on the pavement.  Normally, it is quiet and calm, a slight breeze, and a time to sort out my thoughts.  If I'm ticked off, it is a great anger management tool.  If I'm stressed, I can pound my frustrations into the asphalt.  

But it is mentally different, too.  I don't bring music anymore, or even need it; my head is full of thoughts and emotions and ideas and passions that for 30 minutes or so, I can bring some sort of clarity and order to them.  Some days it is a time to connect spiritually as well; God and I have a lot of conversations in my head! 

Tonight was one of those nights; loved my girls in small group tonight, though some of their stories about bring tears to my ears and furious anger at the one who deceives and is hell-bent on destroying our next generation.  And it got me thinking about a topic that has been, and continues to be, near and dear to my heart:  mediocrity or exceptionality?

If you know me at all, you know that I have an addictive personality.  Well... addictive may not be the right word.  Obsessive may be better.  When you give me a task at to, I will do it not just good enough, but take it to the top.  110%.  Overachiever?  Maybe.  I like to think of it as I am the sort of person who would rather do one thing magnificently than five things that are only okay or decent.

A few weeks ago, Jonathan asked me to speak to his students during the message time on Wednesday night.  In reality, it became more of challenge:  are you going to settle for just getting by, just being mediocre, or are you going to be exceptional?  God designed us, created us, to run for Him.  Now running is hard; most people's bodies have a love-hate relationship with it.  Their soul loves it and learns to love it and even long for it; their lungs and legs physically can hate and struggle with it.  But it was a challenge, and one God has put on my own heart over the past few months:  am I going to settle for what the world tells us "normal Christianity" is suppose to be, or am I going to run?