A Runner’s Thoughts: “Running, much like life, [faith and the spiritual life], has its hills and valleys. On any given run, and particularly in most marathons, we come across easy stretches and seemingly impossible challenges. I have learned to just keep going. The tough moments never last, and the easy stretches are always a joy. The same is clearly true in life [in faith and the spiritual life], if we just keep going we'll get to that finish line with water, massages, and bananas! [And friendship with God!] (Main part of quote by Will Starr, Runner's World Challenger of the Week – I add what is in the brackets)
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A Runner’s Thoughts: My friends, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? If a sister or brother has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and we say to them, “Good-bye and good luck! Keep warm and well fed,” but do not meet their bodily needs, what good is that? So, it is with faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless. (From the Letter of James 2:13-17)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “Instead of imposing new obligations, (Christians) should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet.” (Pope Francis}
A Runner’s Thoughts: “When you've had the perfect run, you've cleared your soul.” (Pat Monahan) I would say it doesn’t even have to be a perfect run; sometimes a really tough run or just an ordinary run can still be a way to clear your heart, mind and soul. And when you can clear your heart, mind and soul you are not far from peace!
A Runner’s Thoughts: “An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion.” (Newton's First Law of Motion) The living of life needs a balance between motion and rest, between sound and silence, between company and solitude, but we always need the friendship of God!
A Runner’s Thoughts: The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals, they are the struggles within yourself – the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us – that’s where it's at. (Jesse Owens) So too in the spiritual life…
A Runner’s Thoughts: Find a quiet place and reflect on your faith life at some point today. Read Colossians 1:1-8 as though it were being read to you by one of your favorite saints, a friend, or your spiritual director. Can you hear the encouragement? Can you own the truth that good things are happening in your life? (Adapted from a reflection by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB in Living with Christ)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” (John Bingham) The miracle is trusting in the presence of God, then finding, embracing and acknowledging that presence as we move through life!
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” (Oscar Wilde)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “Looking forward to something is much more fun than looking back at something–and much more constructive.” (Hortense Odlum)
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Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P. "Preacher on the Run!"A thought from time to time about Running and Life! Archives
April 2024
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