So I’ve spent the past week or so pretending that I’m a runner hoping my body will catch on to it and be fooled into behaving like one. I hate running. As a rule I run under 2 conditions. 1. When I need to blow off steam B. When it’s raining.  These are the only times where I actually enjoy running. It’s not that I don’t enjoy working out. I make a point to fit in a good work out every day if I can, but it’s much more likely to be weight lifting or pilates or whatever new workout dvd catches my eye at Target. I love workouts that are geared towards strength. Running makes me tired, and I’m just not that good at it. After a mile or so it’s all I can do to keep going, and if any hills pop up, game over. But I realize that I need a little cardio in my routine so I’ve been driving out to Johnson Park every day to go the distance. After making a new playlist, it’s really not so bad after all, except for the heat, so hopefully if I can keep it up that hill at the end of the mile won’t seem quite so ominous.

I say that to say this: I set aside some time to read the Bible today and I came across the well known and well liked verse that we all hear so much.

“Even youths will become weak and tired and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not faint.”  -Isaiah 40:30-31

In the midst of my new found notsomuch hobby, I hovered over this verse a little while. I like to think I’m decently strong for a teenage girl, but I never feel weaker than when I run and there are times like today when it feels like I won’t make it back to my car..running or walking. What I would give to find a new strength to propel me up that last hill. So maybe I’m not going to get any supernatural help with my runs, but I will take all the strength I can get otherwise.

I’m a busy person by nature. I like to think of my calendar as a game of Tetris. I win if I can fit in as many events without conflicts or empty space. Unfortunately I usually end up losing with overlapping school, extracurricular activities, and social life. But I usually try to do it all and I get tired and worn down. I started filling in my calendar this week for the fall and although I haven’t even gotten to college yet or looked into all the different organizations I want to join I’m already feeling frazzled with what I do know. As of now I’m still signed up for 20 hours of classes because I can’t decide what to drop. I’m down for Psychology, Biology, Bio Lab, Spanish, History, Dance Appreciation, Freshman Seminar, and a required Honors course. If I drop one I will be down to the maximum 17 hours but can’t decide what would be the best thing to take off my plate.

I found the BCM calendar online and started marking my calendar for the events that I know I will be involved with and left spaces open for the things I hope to try out for, such as the Dance Team and Dinner Theater which raise money for missions. The goal is to earn a spot on the summer mission team which pays for whichever trip I choose to go on, but I will have to apply and be interviewed and my plan is to become as deeply involved as I can until then in preparation for that interview. I signed up for various other clubs at orientation which I am really looking forward to as well. And a social life would be nice.

Needless to say, I’ve gained a new appreciation for this remaining month of summer that I have. I was starting to get restless until I realized that I will have plenty to do come August and it would do me well to enjoy the leisure time. I can already predict that I’m going to get overwhelmed and burnt out as I always do at some point or another, but Isaiah tells me that those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. But I can’t expect God to help me soar on wings of an eagle if I don’t take the time to park it at the nest every once in a while, so I’m taking advantage of this month that I have to spend as much time learning and growing and gaining strength now that will hopefully carry me through the next semester.

I still haven’t found any passage in the Bible telling me how to actually run without growing faint..I guess for once it’s okay to look instead to our culture for the answers…

Just Do It!!