It’s so good to be back on the beach again for a run. What a crazy busy summer this has been, and it’s not over yet. Right now this is where I want to be; running on the beach, clearing my head, talking to God, and occasionally stopping to pick up beach glass.
The occasional stops have become consistent occurrences now. Looks like another big day for beach glass. Okay, I am sensing that God is giving me a challenge; to finish out my run without stopping to pick up glass. Hmm? Okay, no problem. I can do that. Easy. I’ll get started right after that green one… No, You’ve started already. Okay, no problem, I don't need that piece of glass; that beautiful, perfectly curved, shiny, green piece of glass. Head up. Yeah, right, head up. Well, maybe I should still stop for colored glass, but skip the white ones. That would be a sacrifice to skip the white ones, right? But that’s not what I said. That wasn't the challenge. Okay, okay, I hear you. But it’s not every day you see this much glass on the beach. Which is why you are not going to pick any up. It’s more of a challenge today for that very reason.”
It takes me a few minutes to run out of excuses, but finally I settle into the fact that I am not going to even look down. I am running straight ahead, totally committed 100% to not picking up any more glass today. I am shocked that it was so difficult to give this up. But now that I have given it up, I feel so free. And I am happy. I am laughing, kind of giddy.
Who would have thought it would be so hard to let go of something so simple. And who would have thought that the initial struggle would be replaced by such joy. It’s such a little thing, to momentarily give up beach glass. (Lord, this is momentary, right? Just a temporary challenge, just for today, right?)
I wonder, are there other things in my life to let go of? Bigger things? Invisible strongholds that I don't even recognize yet? What might those be, Lord?
Posted on
Tue, July 28, 2009
by Chris Spitters