For each of us, the idea of running evokes different emotions. Those of us who never shone at P.E. at school probably have grim memories of cross-country running in sleet and cold, faces stinging, legs aching, hearts pounding. Others love the sensation of speed and talk of the exhilaration of running, competing in marathons and putting themselves through all kinds of physical pain in order to experience the endorphin-rush of running.
Our views on running may also be influenced by whether we are running away from something in adrenaline-fuelled terror or running towards something in eager anticipation. Or we may view running differently depending on whether we’re prepared for it (a scheduled session in comfortable clothing and suitable footwear) or caught unawares (running for a bus in a pencil skirt and high heels, for example!)
Others may view running with wistfulness as age and infirmity make even walking difficult or with envy as disability prevents that for ever. It’s clears our views on running can be very different.
The Bible uses the idea of running metaphorically to describe our journey of faith. Heb 12:1 urges us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’ Paul talks of not running aimlessly (see 1 Cor 9:24-27) and near the end of his life says, ‘I have finished the race.’ (2 Tim 4:7) Even if we struggle to run physically, we are all involved in this kind of running.
Rend Collective’s song ‘Joy’ contains the intriguing lyric ‘Though I’m broken, I am running into Your arms of love.’ We can’t imagine brokenness and running together, but this is the wonder of God. Our race is not running away from God, but running towards a God whose arms are open to receive us: ‘blameless now, I’m running home.’ (‘Boldly I Approach’, Rend Collective) We run to the secret place where God abides and find a welcome that makes every step worth the effort!