The Failed Run!
Last Friday I had what I would call, “a failed run!” That is, partly through my long run for the week, I bailed out—something I had never done before. Let me explain.
I left my home at about 6:30 am in order to beat the heat that was supposed to set in later that day. Although it wasn’t yet all that warm, the humidity was extremely high. (Later, I learned it was close to 80%.) I had mapped out a 12 mile run and began it feeling pretty well. I had with me a small bottle of electrolyte drink and an energy gel. And things were going great for about the first 4-5 miles. By about mile 5, however, my shirt was soaking wet. I felt like I was carrying a 3-4 pound weight on my back. At mile six I realized that my legs were feeling heavier and heavier and my pace was getting slower and slower. At that point, I didn’t think I was going to make it all the way back home. So, I did something I had never done before: I called my wife, Kim, who was yet at home, and told her I only had about one mile left in me and where to meet me. Like the great wife she is, she left home as soon as she could and met me at mile seven. Feeling a bit defeated, I climbed into the car and rode home the final 5 miles of my 12 mile run. UGH!
Upon returning home, I realized that, in spite of trying to hydrate that morning and having with me an electrolyte drink, I had become dehydrated. The humidity had gotten the best of me. And although I was still feeling defeated, I realized I had made the right decision when I had called Kim to pick me up.
I’m not sure how many of you can relate to bailing out on a run after 7 miles. What I do know is, we can all relate that feeling of failure. After all, we all have times in our lives when things don’t go the way we planned for them to go. We all have times in our lives when we misjudge, misstep, or make a huge mistake. We’re faced time and again with our own limitations as we come across circumstances that are out of our control—things in life that derail of us from that which we were hoping to accomplish. We are all faced at some point in our lives, in one way or another, with a failed run!
The question becomes, what do we do after a failed run? Do we sit around and sulk? Do we blame others? Do we give up and say we are never going to run again? Those are just some of the ways people react to their own failure. But, as I’m sure you know, none of them are healthy ways to respond. In the end, the best thing we can do with a failed run is, chalk it up to experience and a lesson learned, dust off our bruised ego, and run again. To never run again—to never try again—ought not be an option for that will only lead to greater feelings of failure and will keep us from living the lives we are called to live.
Most of all, I’m thankful that we have a God who doesn’t hold our failed runs against us. Rather, he comes alongside of us in the midst of the failures of our lives—even when we sin against him—and offers to us forgiveness, restoration, renewal, and strength, whatever we need, that we might get up and continue this run that we call, life. All he asks us to do is, to put our trust in him.
Whatever kind of failed run you may be facing today, let me encourage you to look to God for the help and strength you may need to move on. Then, with his help, get up and begin to run again.
By the way, tomorrow morning, I’ll be doing another long run!
Have a great day!
- Pastor Tim Harris
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