Run and Focus!

The sidewalk I run and "focus" on!

Some of you may know that I'm a runner. It's hard for me to actually call myself a runner because my husband has completed marathons and half ironman triathlons. He constantly tells me to not compare myself to him but it's kind of hard to not make comparisons when you live with the man! All that to say, I do enjoy running and have tried to gain more knowledge and skill. Lately I've been training for my second 10K (6.2 miles). I've noticed on my last few runs that I've been looking all over the place and my mind has been racing making mental lists of things that need to be done. I set out on my latest run and decided to work on mentally and visually focusing forward in the direction I was running rather than critiquing everyone's landscaping choices! I knew if I kept my focus forward it would help me to stay determined and have better form while running. As I set out to do this I found myself talking to God and He started to say, "Jen, what if you lived your life like this and continually made a point to focus on ME each day rather than all of the distractions that come your way?" It was simple but a good word picture of so many things that distract us from our focus on God each day when ultimately He should be our complete focus each day and the ONE we live for!

I then came home and read this excerpt out of Crazy Love by Francis Chan.
                
"When you are pursuing love, running toward Christ, you do not have opportunity to wonder, Am  I doing this right? or Did I serve enough this week? When you are running toward Christ, you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry, or fear. As long as you are running, you are safe. But running is exhausting - if, that is, we are running from sin or guilt, out of fear. (Or if we haven't run in a while.) However, if we train ourselves to run toward our Refuge, toward Love, we are free - just as we are called to be."

Okay...so I think God was seriously trying to get my attention Monday morning!! I've listened and I hope you will too..it is essential, and in turn a blessing, to keep our focus on the ONE we live for!