Run in the Rain

Do you like routines?

When I was younger, I never had a routine. I'd wake up as late as I possibly could, do my makeup in the car, and get to work right on time. After work, I'd do random things. Something different all the time. And I'd stay up late. Real late. Like, the sun's going to come up soon, so I'd better get a few hours of sleep before I die tomorrow, late.

Then, when I became a mom, it didn't change much. My kids slept when I slept and woke when I woke. They napped when they were tired. Not much of a routine girl, I guess. For you moms of littles out there who are shaking their heads at my lack of mommy routine, we will discuss the pros and cons of that another day. But just for the record, they are all well-adjusted, happy adults who hold jobs and do, in fact, get there on time. :) Back then, I didn't have a routine. But now it's different. 

Now I have a routine. 

• I wake up every morning at 6am. 
• I read a chapter in my bible.
• I journal. 
• I talk to my best friend as she drives to work.
• I run-walk around my neighborhood. 

Yes. I do both. 

I walk uphill and run the straightaways and downhills. It's a means to an end, not a lifestyle or passion of mine, believe me. My goal is to get 10,000 steps in a day, and running helps me reach my goal faster. It's as simple as that. 

The other day I made the decision to go outside even though it was raining. As I was out there in the cold, drizzly weather, I remembered how I didn't want to walk outside that day. I didn't want to be wet from the rain. Wet from sweat was bad enough. Did I need that extra moisture on my clothes? Not really. Did I especially want to run outside when I had a perfectly good treadmill that my daughter bought me in my bedroom? I mean, I could watch tv at the same time and stay nice and dry. Does that seem like a wise choice to you? It didn't to me either when I was playing out all the different scenarios in my head. 

• Do I stick to my routine or do I break away from it because it's not convenient? 
• Do I take comfort over discipline? 
• Do I do what is best for me in the long run, even if unpleasant in the moment? 

I made a choice. I went outside.

It made me think about how many times in life we are faced with decisions similar to this one. No, not to run in the rain or run on a treadmill. 

• The decision to push ourselves out of our comfort zone or play it safe? 
• To take long-term results over immediate gratification? 
• To take the hard road or the easy path? 
• To follow through with our plans, or break them when something more enticing comes along? 
• To keep our word, even to ourselves, when circumstances change or break our promises?

I could have stayed inside. If I did, I would not have enjoyed breathing the fresh air. If I did, I would not have felt refreshed from the cool rain falling on my face. If I did, I would not have been able to see all the greenery and flowers growing all around me because they all need rain to grow. 

Just like me. 

• I needed that runwalk. 
• I needed that refreshing breeze. 
• I needed to be out in the beautiful world God gave me to live in. 
• I needed to remember how many times I didn't want to do something but chose to do it anyway. 
• I needed to remember how some things are hard, but the best things in life don't come easy. 
• I needed to remember that people are watching how I live.
• I needed to lead by example.

I needed to run. 

I know there are days when you just don't want to stick to your routine. There are days when you don't want to exercise, or fold another load of laundry, or go to work and see those rude coworkers that are always looking for ways to tear you down. I know there are some days when it's as hard to get out of bed as it is to move a two-ton boulder. But you can do hard things. 

One step at a time. 

Whether it's being nice to someone who just hurt you, facing your fears, or taking that step to start something new. Whatever you are facing today, just take a baby step. Put your mind to something and don't give up. If you follow through, you will be happy you did. So get out of bed, go to work, cook another meal even though you hear more complaints than compliments. Take that step. Walk. And then run.

I need to run in the rain. And so do you! 

Don't worry about the black clouds, the uncomfortability of it all, or the way you look to others. You will soon feel refreshed. You will see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You will see that the sun does come out again. So next time you have the choice to stay inside, stay stagnant, avoid being challenged, don't. Don't stay inside. God made the rain as well as the sun. So go. 

Run in the rain!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us also put off every weight that hinders us and every sin that clings to us, 

and let us run with perserverance the race that is set before us.

-Hebrews 12:1