Runner vs. Non-Runner

Life is full of similarities. 

But it is also full of differences.

Within the first year of running, I researched a lot, and in the process came across a lot of runner quotes that made no sense to me.  Things like, “They ask me, Why do you run?  I ask them, Why don’t you?”  Or, “Running is a time when I clear my head and get away from my problems.”  These runners seemed to really enjoy the times that they felt like they were dying.  Or at least that is the way I saw it.

For some time when people asked me why I ran or if I enjoyed it, I didn’t really have an answer.  It was a love/hate relationship.  I enjoyed being able to accomplish new distances or times, but everything else seemed to be miserable. 

Why did I keep running?

To me this is a question that still pops up sometimes, especially during this 5k May Challenge (running/walking a 5k everyday in the month of May).  Sometimes when I wake up I really just don’t want to get out there and get ‘er done. 

If you are a runner yourself, you probably understand my dilemma.  If you are not a runner, don’t let this discourage you, everything in life comes with pro’s and con’s, if done right the good definitely outweighs the bad.

As I contemplated what this topic matched up with in the spiritual realm, I realized that as a Christian, non-believers see us as weird and different, just like non-runners see runners as odd or confusing.  We serve a Jewish God that we cannot see, and from the outside, onlookers may think following Christ comes with extreme amounts of turmoil and pain, just like running.  Being a Christian (or runner) is sure to come with disappointment, discouragement, setbacks, and pain, these two practices are not meant for the uncommitted, who aren’t willing to take on the turmoil just as much as the joy. 

Being a runner requires time, energy, commitment, and care, as does the Christian life.  When we accept Christ into our lives we must realize what we are taking on, it isn’t “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”.  Sorry to break it to you, but not much changes on the outside when you become a Christian.   It’s what we get on the inside that is truly life-giving!

We need to learn to embrace the hard times realizing that it makes us stronger, just as we rejoice in the good times.  Whether you are a Christian, non-believer, runner, or non-runner, we all struggle with the same things, we all have good and bad days, and we all have choices to make.  But the catch is that when you become a Christian, Christ lives in you.  You then have his love, joy, peace, contentment, faith, self-control, hope, and power inside of you, available at any time if you ask Him. 

I encourage you, the next time you go for a jog, ask God to show you some similarities between running and a Christians life.  The differences between runners and non-runners are pretty obvious, but sometimes the spiritual side of things can require some extra searching.

And if you haven’t watched our fun video on Runners vs. Non-runners, I encourage you to check it out below!  It was so much fun to make!

Until Next time, Happy Running Ya’ll!