Friday, January 2, 2009

Meeting with God

After the birth of my fourth child, my son Ot, we had someone come in to help while I recuperated. During the eight days she took care of me and Ot, and kept the household running she told me about her love for running. She explained how it gave her a feeling of calm and serenity.

For me running was about the stupidest sport there ever was. Running around with nowhere to go? Getting all sweaty? Yuck! I looked at runners with a mixture of pity and reluctance. But the promise of peace and calm touched a deep longing inside of me.

I have always experienced the birth of a child as a kind of life crisis. A breaking point in my life, where old patterns are broken down and there's room for new insights. Maybe that's why, for the first time in my life, my mind opened up to the idea of running.

After I'd recuperated I found a training programme for beginners and started to take twenty minute walks, during which I wore Ot wrapped around me with a sling. I came home exhausted but exhilerated at the same time. Slowly but surely I progressed from walking to running and after about four months I could run for thirty minutes.

That's almost eight years ago, and I'm still running.

For me this caretaker was a meeting with God. She came into my life at a time I was open and responsive to new insights and gave me the gift of finding peace of mind through running. To regain my balance and to find myself.

I feel it's the most beautiful gift.

8 comments:

Beth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Beth said...

God will always put someone into our lives at the right time.

Stacy Uncorked said...

Ditto what Beth said! ;)

Mrsbear said...

I've been thinking about beginning to run, any advice on where to start, sites to visit and the like. Sounds like it invites some peace.

Debbie said...

Just found you through BlogStalkers. What a great post. Isn't it wondeful how people come into our lives at just the right time.

Leanne said...

I've just started running. Sometimes I start off wanting to run away from my home, but by the end I'm happy to return. Who can knock that? :) He works in mysterious ways...

Kristen Andrews said...

I don't like to run but do love to walk I don't know why but I just never have liked running maybe some day :)

Nessa said...

I wish I could get into running. I WANT to but i HATE to lol. So far the dislike is winning but maybe soon i'll change it a bit

 

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