Monday Meditation

a necessary habit of mind

I came of age during the initial “joy of running” era. The running gear in those days was not fancy and minimally expensive. The ever popular weekend races often free. I loved running daily, and races on Saturday. That included various longer distances until eventually I ran a marathon when our older daughter was 2 years old. Twenty-four years later we ran the Marine Corps marathon together. A thrilling moment. I ran several more over the years. Then I walked a long pilgrimage. When I returned home I assumed I would continue running with the same joy and enthusiasm. The problem is whenever I ran I had a palpable sense of being-in-a-hurry. I felt compelled to walk, not run. The pilgrimage mode had overtaken my running mojo. 

Walking slowly, I was more aware of the earth, noticing bird songs, flora and fauna, and stopping to take in my surroundings. After six marathons, 5 half marathons on two continents and various other distances - I just stopped, and began to walk without regret. Yet, there is one thing I’m glad I didn’t leave behind. 

There is a certain pattern of mind that is necessary to run a marathon and, experience the joy of finishing. It is deeply satisfying to cross the finish line - still standing and uninjured. This habit of mind has helped me in many circumstances, learning to pace myself and keep my eyes on finishing well. Runners say to one another: “trust your training.” There are other mental habits that help you endure the stages where there are no crowds and your body is aching, yet you carry on because you’ve trained for this. I would often recite the passage from Hebrews: “Run the race with endurance” or Luke: “keep your hand on the plow and your eyes on the prize.” 

I believe this habit of mind is necessary of the chapter this nation is now entering. It’s the capacity to pace oneself, to be steady on your feet, aware of your surroundings, and to take every opportunity to hydrate and eat the right food to replenish your body and spirit. These will likely be difficult times, though we can’t fully know the future. We can learn to pace ourselves, trust in God, and respond with wisdom, faith and courage. The other image that I often carried with me when I ran long distances was that of the “great cloud of witnesses.” Those who have finished their race and gone on before, yet abide cheering us on as we run that race that is set before us.

Steady on friends. Trust your training.

The Camino de Santiago