Running with Passion

Aunt Pammy Half Marathon

April 26, 2014

 So, for as far back as I can remember, I get a rush of emotions when I am around runners and tears just escape my eyes.  I noticed it at a young age because my Dad is a runner- it’s just in him.    Part of how God designed him.   He gets around runners and he just lights up. 

But then I started to notice I would also get emotional when I would watch my brother wrestle when he was in high school.  And a well of emotions would scramble up inside me when I would march during marching band in high school.  OR when I would witness a musical performance.  Or interact with someone who was passionate about whatever it is they do…  And that’s when I realized, the emotions were not due solely to running, but more in reaction to passion. 

Like I said about my dad and running… passion comes alive when it is part of the design God has crafted in each individual.  And it is beautiful… and I cannot contain my reaction to witnessing the beauty of His creation.

(Note: I read a book titled, “A Million Little Ways” by Emily P. Freeman recently and it spoke directly to my heart relating to God’s art and passion alive in us.  Such a powerful read for me!)

A couple of months ago my little sister, Pam, told me she was going to run a half marathon on April 26, 2014.  It’s always been a dream of mine to run a marathon, but I just can’t seem to get my body in motion to actually DO it!  I’ve tried running before and I do enjoy it, but not enough to actually consistently run.  And it’s incredibly easy for me to excuse it away… “too busy with the kids…” “too tired…” “too much else to do…”  “too cold…” “too hot…” etc. etc.  So when Pam informed me of her half marathon…. I thought, go PAM!  And I had a little bit of “aww shucks, sure wish I could do it!”

So April 26 was this past Saturday.  Charlotte, Cale and I drove to cheer her on.  And as we were driving to the first spot, lightning struck in the distance and rain drops began to fall.  We sat in our car.  We waited.  The runners continued on their path, the rain drumming the road, covering their backs.  And that emotional well inside me began to well up. 

Then we saw Pam and I saw that passion etched across her face, embedded in her stride.  It was beautiful.  God is beautiful.

We drove around to various points to cheer Pam and her friend, Aileen on in their first ever half marathon.  Charlotte and Cale got a kick out of it- though they did start to get a little antsy by the time we settled in at the finish line to wait for Pam and Aileen.  It was all I could do to hold them off the “yellow brick road” finishing line!

All of a sudden, there was Pam.  It was as though something clicked inside her and the passion ignited a flame.  I think the pictures say it all.  You can just see the passion in her face.  The emotions.  The beauty.  And there’s my Dad on the sideline… I see that same passion.  That same beauty.  A glimmer of something bigger than just a half-marathon (though that is indeed, BIG!)… a glimmer of God.

And I wasn’t the only one to see it.  That passion cannot be hidden.  Jesus cannot be squashed down.  The announcer saw it too, congratulating and cheering “Pamela” on as she crossed the finish line.  I don’t remember his exact words, but you could tell in his voice that he too, saw that passion.

It was beautiful and it was contagious.  Sure made me want to give running another try!  And I think I might just join my sister on one of her runs this summer.  But the important thing here, the thing I want to make most clear….

It’s not the running that was beautiful.  It was Jesus alive that I couldn’t tear my eyes from.  His art inside my sister, my Dad and others that day that stirred up that emotional reaction inside my soul. 

Congrats Pam and Aileen on your first ever half marathon!  May you continue to allow Jesus to flow in you, through you, and out of your runner’s limbs!  Running His path He has designed for you!