Yesterday I had to run 9 miles for the half marathon training. I procrastinated all weekend with the rain and knew I had to get it done.

My head space wasn’t right when I started. I was praying but my thoughts kept shifting.

After a mile and a half I ran into a friend which was a blessing. We ran until she was done with her run, but I still had six miles to go.

I admittedly went to turn my music on but for some reason it wouldn’t work. So I turned back to prayer.

The battle for my thoughts was real.

Then about five miles into the run I saw a woman on the trail in a wheelchair. I smiled and said, “have a blessed day,” to her. With a radiant smile she replied enthusiastically, “Amen!”

This extremely brief interaction was transformative for me. This woman in the wheelchair radiated joy while my able-bodied self was wrestling within to find contentment and joy.

I strongly believe learning other people’s stories can help reel our own thoughts into perspective. That is exactly what this brief meeting did for me.

My thoughts shifted from the not wanting to be running to focusing on others, those who would like to be on their feet, walking or running, or moving in any way.

Getting my thoughts focused on God and praying for others was transformative and my compass the rest of the run. Those last five miles went quicker than the first four, maybe not in time but in my mind.

I share this with you in case you aren’t in the right head space at times too. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we seek God first to help us. And may we keep our eyes and ears open to who He places around us to help renew our minds and help us get back aligned with His word and Truth in our thoughts, as this brief yet lovely meeting did for me yesterday.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition... present your requests to God...” “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right… think about such things.”
-Philippians 4:6–8