Running has become one of the passions of my life. It is no longer something I do just
to stay in shape. After over a decade of running, I have realized that being a runner has
become part of my identity. It is not something that I do as a means to an end. I’m sure
that there will be a day when I’m no longer able to run, but I imagine that I will still think
of myself as a runner.
The Way is one of the names for the early Christian movement. It is mentioned several
times in the Acts of the Apostles. The followers of the Way had to be full of bravery and
faith during this time. My faith journey has been much easier than that of those early
believers. As I have matured in my faith, I have realized that my faith has changed
over the years. What began with the excitement of conversion has also grown into an
understanding of discipleship. Similar to my running, my faith has become part of my
identity. In fact, I would say it is my identity. I live every moment as a disciple of Jesus.
The interesting thing is that my running and my discipleship are often connected. The
physical and the spiritual have often both been at work in my running. For example, my
favorite type of running involves running for long distances in nature. Sometimes I pray.
Sometimes I sort out the thoughts in my head. Sometimes I talk to God. Sometimes I
just think about nothing. I find it increasingly important to have this time with God and
to create a rhythm of activity that allows me to commune with Him. Sometimes, what I
write will be only about running. Sometimes I will write only about my faith. Often,
these two will be connected in some way though, and I hope to share some of what I
have experienced Running Along The Way.
