So on Sunday morning, which happened to be Easter I went for the run I should have done on Saturday.
My kids were all scratching their heads at this unusual behavior for Mom. I don't know what my brother and sister in law thought. My daughter who is on the same training schedule as me and who had also missed her run the day before opted not to come with me.
I wondered if I was being quite the heathen but I remembered the wonderful run I had had on a Sunday over 25 years ago and thought maybe I would have another one. Of course that one had been done for the pure enjoyment of the run without any preconceived notion of it being un-Sabbath like.
Well now I am not quite so naive about the general opinion of running on the Sabbath of people of my own faith. And to avoid having anyone in the "ward" observe my exercise I drove to the canal instead of running around my neighborhood.
When I parked at a parking lot next to a park, I noticed a group of people having their Religious Easter Services outside on folding chairs. It seemed like a beautiful setting to have Easter Services. The preacher was the loud and emotional type. I was touched by these people and that they had chosen to hear about about Christ on this Easter Day, of course I know it is one of the most attended services out of the year. But on Sundays, I usually don't see other faith's services and so it was touching. Good people trying to do good things or at least trying to be good.
I started my run, apprehensive about whether this was the right decision for me. I pondered this subject the whole time. I enjoyed the beautiful morning, loved the cool breeze and especially running on dirt as opposed to the asphalt, as well as the stress releasing pounding of my feet. But watching my Garmin for the time and pace made it impossible to stay in a worship mood. And after some more pondering I have to admit, bottom-line, I had run to get my work-out in, not for the pleasure of it, not for rest or worship. So while I think there might be a time someday when a Sabbath run would work out for me, it is not going to be when I am doing it as part of a training schedule. Not when my priority is work-out over worship. Perhaps when my run can just be a form of worship or rest from worldly cares.
I am not trying to say this should be the case for anyone else, I'm just realizing what is going to work for me.
Alright, confession over!
Just kidding!
