Not having an idiotic feat of running ahead of me, I awake most Saturday mornings with the intention of taking a long run and the motivation to stay in the big chair reading the New Yorker. The self-reenforcing cycle which is thus initiated spirals quickly into a pathetic mass of self loathing and recrimination which is destined to wind up in a pack of Camel Lights sooner or later. Except that they aren’t called Camel Lights anymore. They’re called Blues maybe? We all know what they are anyway. And while I really and truly don’t have a thing about other people smoking, I’m not interested in going back there.
The only answer is to do what I need to do without regard for whether or not I want to do it. Going for a run is not unique in this regard. Plenty of things sound like no fun until I actually get into it, and then it is just fine. And so it was this morning when, rather than sit and read about Haaretz, I chose to go run around in the woods.
Two minutes into the experience, I had solid evidence that this was a very good idea. Babbling water and chirping birds will always do that. Still, there were intruding thoughts of the week’s work and my total lack of spiritual discipline to contend with. Funny how in the process of addressing one, the other can be dealt with as well. I asked for the grace to be in the moment and low and behold, I was given that and more.
I noticed the stones under my feet and the small hints of early spring. A positive, productive work thought put all the others to rest. Choosing to focus further on the run, I headed up a climb rather than stay by the water. The ascent was labored but the reward was complete. Endorphins and caffeine for all my people!