Running in January Sunshine

It was a glorious sunny day with temperatures in the mid 40's. As soon as I could, I put on my running shoes and out the door I went. Lately it has been overcast and dreary. And since there's nothing like a sunny day in the middle of winter to woo your affections outdoors, I simply couldn't resist.

The sky was so blue and as I ran my 4 mile route, I thought about the privilege to run in the sun. The light offered by it's rays makes my path clear to see all the things that could be a potential threat to the goal I have before me. I can see the small pebble, the tiny acorn, the pinecone or twig, the uneven pavement, the round little hardened cranberry, the patch of wet leaves, and even the things left behind by both man's best friend or the geese which live by the lakes along my path. Just a step on anyone of these things could cause the ol' ankle to roll. It's happened before and it hurts. When it's dark out, these things remain hidden.

The sunlight also offers a friend to run with -- my shadow. Today, depending on the direction I ran, she was on my right, then on my left, sometimes in front of me and a few times disappearing behind me. But I knew she was there -- a kind of group run thing happening. It was fun to see my ponytail bounce up and down with each stride, the arms pumping forward and back, the shoulders moving to and fro. I was glad to have her with me!

Nearing the end of my run, I passed the second lake on my course and enjoyed seeing the sunbeams reflect on it's surface. It was truly beautiful and for a moment it helped me to forget that by that time I was feeling the run as I neared the 4 mile mark. The bright sun's reflection blinked like white shiny lights on a Christmas tree. It was beautiful. As I ran by, the reflection grew smaller and smaller until at last I saw the last individual light go out. I wouldn't have seen that without some sunshine!

With every step I took, I saw the scattered pinhead crystals sparkle in the pavement. There were so many. I just never knew. It is said in the Bible that the streets of heaven are paved in pure gold. I imagined all those tiny crystals I saw as my feet pounded the pavement glimmering in the cement because of the sunlight were tightly fitted together, like those gold streets must be. How wonderful to run on that! Someday, if we can continue to run in heaven, I guess I'll find out. For now, I'll run in the light God created here on earth being reminded all the while what His Son said in John 8:12 -- "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

As I warmed down with a slow walk back to the house, I noticed one of my neighbors out in his yard and said to him, "Gotta love this January sunshine!" To which he replied, "You bet ya, you just can't help it!"