Wrong Side of the Hill

As far as this part of the country goes, it was a great morning for a run.  The sun was preparing to make its presence known on the eastern horizon as I got out of my car and began to stretch (at my age, you just don't rush into anything - especially physical activity!) The air was still cool and the humidity, in spite of recent rains, was relatively low. I felt good and had high hopes for my run.  Of course, it has only been a few weeks since I began meeting the day with miles. Still, I have been making progress and enjoying the feeling of having my body active again.  

I started as I always do - slow! It wasn't long, however, that I began to feel the pace increasing...and it felt good!  I surprised some deer on the verge of the road and was reminded of the joy that running in nature brings. I had chosen a route that allowed me views of the sunrise, prairie grass and the morning dew on wildflowers. As often happens, my mind began to wander and I found myself reflecting back to my days in college when running fast was one my greatest joys. And for a couple of miles that is exactly what I was doing (at least it was fast for my station of life).  I was infused with great joy and happiness!

Then it happened.  I realized that I had forgotten to take one of the cut-offs I had planned.  No, I wasn't lost. But I was in a place I hadn't intended to be.  You see, up until this point I had managed to stay on relatively flat terrain.  Now I found myself on the wrong side a hill that must be traversed if I were to make it back to the car at my appointed time.  Not what I had hoped for. Seeing the hill looming large before me, I realized I had been pushing myself much harder than intended; indeed, harder than had I pushed myself in a number of years. I felt spent and began to wonder if I had what it would take to make it up that very long climb.

Isn't this how life sometimes goes?  Don't we often find ourselves moving along at a pace that brings us joy, partaking all the pleasures that surround us - feeling good about where we are and what we are doing - and then, BAM! We find ourselves on the wrong side of the hill. Only then do we realize that we must expend resources we no longer have available if we are to overcome the obstacle in front of us.  

Such are the times when we must take inventory of ourselves. Such are the times when we discover what we truly are made of. Admittedly, lacking the resources to meet the needs of life (be they emotional, relational, physical or financial issues)  is a far different situation than needing to run up a hill.  No matter what  the cause, finding yourself on the wrong side of one of those hills can be a debilitating, humbling and frightening experience.  But the options are the same as I encountered at the bottom of my hill: admit defeat and allow the circumstances to overtake us; or find a source of strength beyond ourselves to help us overcome.

Which will you choose?

As for me, I began to recall verses of Scripture that encouraged me not to give up hope; this enabled me to set my sights on top of the hill, ignore the pain and discomfort, and keep moving up. I can't say my pace would shatter any records - even for my age group - but I made it to the top.  And there is great joy in having scaled your way up the wrong side of the hill.

Let us run with endurance the race set before us. [Hebrews 12:1b]