A Runner’s Thoughts: “Before the truth sets you free, it tends to make you miserable.”
(Richard Rohr)
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A Runner's Thoughts: O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. – and – “How you do anything is how you do everything.” (Kristin Armstrong) So make your life, about the impossible becoming possible, about taking advantage of God's presence in your life!
A Runner's Thoughts: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. (O Antiphon) “Prayer is the raising of the mind to God. We must always remember this. The actual words matter less.” (St. John XXIII)
A Runner's Thoughts: “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you.” (Wilma Rudolph)
A Runner's Thought: “Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” (Meister Eckhart)
A Runner’s Thoughts: “You can run full speed into a door that is closed, or you can pull back just a little and go through the open door.” (John Bingham) So let God help you find that open door… Feel the touch of God in your life today…
A Runner's Thoughts: “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.” (Thomas Merton)
A Runner’s Thoughts: In the first reading (Isaiah 40: 25-31) from today’s mass Isaiah writes, “They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint ….” As I read these words this morning, I could not help but think about my own running. I believe that every runner when starting out on a training run or a race utters Isaiah’s words to him or herself in some way. May be not exactly as Isaiah has written them, but in some fashion every runner begins with the hope that they will run and not grow weary. It is the vision of every runner to run strong and to finish.
It is the hope of every person of faith to live life to the fullest, to remain strong and faithful and to finish. St. Paul tells us to run life focused on the finish line. We need to always look ahead not behind. Pope Francis during the Holy Year of Mercy invited us to look ahead and challenged us not to grow weary in our service as a Church to the poor, the homeless and the hungry. I know that not everyone likes to run or can run. But for me, running is a wonderful metaphor for life. When I run, I am reminded of the challenges of life but also the gifts of life. As Isaiah says, “They that hope in the Lord, will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Running is about having hope, being a person of faith is about having hope and, in each case, hope leads us at times to making the impossible – possible! A Runner’s Thoughts: “We ask Mary that, as the first disciple, she teach us to remain watching, that she accompanies us in patience, strengthen us in hope; we ask that she led us towards the meeting with her Risen Son; that she frees us from fear, so that we can hear the announcement of the angel... to announce it to others who need it so much.” (Pope Francis)
A Runner's Thoughts: “Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you're young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don't let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself.” (John Bingham) As a friend of mine says, "So too in the spiritual life!" Faith, belief is the starting point, having faith in your relationship with God. The world will tell you many different things; it will say at times, "You are crazy for believing!" But we don't let the world tells us what is important, what to believe or not believe. We don't dwell in the past. We move beyond the world; we move beyond the past to the present moment, and we believe in ourselves and our God!
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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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