Running in the Dark

I am the type of person who seriously misses Daylight Savings Time because when it is already dark by 5:45pm, it is just really sad. Also, since a lot of times I decide to prioritize sleep in the morning, I end up doing my run for the day after work. This means that sometimes I am literally running against the clock...the ecological one of day/night that is...

Luckily, I have some fabulous reflective gear (shout out to Oiselle's lightning layer) and my trusty handheld Nathan running flashlight. I won't go running in the middle of the night (mom and dad if you're reading this, don't worry I promise I stay safe...), but sometimes I start running just before sunset.

Tonight was the second time recently that I have run from my house to the gym to meet up with Shane for core/strength training/sauna stuff. So again, I got on all my typical running gear and then grabbed my running flashlight before heading out the door.

Every time I end up running in the dark, I start to think about how it is such a good metaphor for life. Because when I'm running with my flashlight, it is my instinct to want to look as far ahead of me as possible. I am used to looking far out in front of me to see things/bikes/cars/people that might be up ahead. But the thing is, when you're running with a flashlight, you really have to keep your light pointed down at the ground in front of your feet. Because watching the road ahead might work during the daytime, but at night, if you aren't looking at that 3 feet radius in front of you, you'll end up falling or tripping over whatever might be in your path.

Life is like that too, or at least I know it is for me. I want to know the "big picture," 5-year plan style outlook on my life. I'd like to know where I am as well as where I'm going. I want to know what the next multiple miles (or years) ahead on my journey are going to hold. But the thing is, just like when I'm running in the dark, all I can really see is the 3-foot radius right in front of me. All I can really know is where I am right now and then focus on taking each next step along the way. I might not know where my path is ultimately leading, but I do know that along the way, I am never walking alone.

The other thing about running in the dark is that I usually wear some sort of reflective clothing or gear. Sometimes it's a hat or a vest, or sometimes just a shirt or pants with some reflective detailing too. And if you think about reflective gear, on its own it usually just looks like weirdly dull and metallic fabric. It doesn't actually become reflective until light shines on it - it's "power" comes from something outside of it. And I feel like this is so true with our walk of faith.

On our own, we can't shine a bright light, but when we cover ourselves with the clothing of God's righteousness, we are able to reflect the light of Christ. Things like reading scripture, taking time to journal and pray, and other spiritual disciplines prepare us to more fully and effectively reflect the light of Christ through our lives. And that is so cool to me!

If you are like me and find yourself running in the dark from time to time, maybe you can smile as you think about all the things it has to teach us about life. And in both life and running, may we give ourselves permission to let go of trying to create 10-year plans and just focus on the people, places, and possibilities right in front of us. Because, ultimately that's all we have, the present - let's not miss it's potential because we're too lost trying to figure out the past or future!