Running

While sitting with friends at Rio (our local Mexican restaurant) Monday night, my friend AJ, who's basically like my younger brother, mentioned that he'd been running. I happened to say, "I really need to start running," a phrase I had used so many times one would think it was my mantra. AJ called me on it. "How long have you been saying that, Robert?"

He'd made his point.

Yesterday evening I ran for the first time since the opening weeks of summer break. I only made it 2.5 miles (though I think I could have gone farther had I slightly slowed my already snail-like pace), but it still felt good. I think a small part of me did it just to prove AJ wrong, but there was a part of me that truly longed to do it, to get back into shape, to feel the contentment that only a good, hard exercise session can offer. I'm actually getting ready to go run with AJ in a few minutes.

But as I sit here with my thoughts, I wonder: Haven't I been doing the exact same thing with God?

I really need to get in my Bible more. I really need to spend more time in prayer. I really need to stop doing this or that. I really need to be a better witness.

Just like sitting on my butt and saying that I need to run won't get me in better physical shape, sitting on my butt and giving mouth service to my relationship with Christ won't bring me any closer to Him.

Pray for me. And keep me accountable.