Yesterday afternoon I made my way lazily down to the restroom facilities were I happened upon one of my coworkers. After we swapped howdy’s, he mentioned that at lunch he was in a conversation about runners versus joggers, and mentioned that he should have mentioned me- as which one I am not sure. Then the conversation went something like this.
“Hey, are you still running?” he asked me.
“Yes”, I replied.
He then commented “Not me, I am just getting fat and lazy. That’s the difference between runners and joggers, runners keep running.”
To which I said “Well, you can do it, it’s just one step at a time”
and he finished as we parted ways, “You are right. No excuses. I just have to get out there and go!”
Yep, and that is the same way with our spirituality, we can be a spiritual jogger or runner. But I think we are pushed to be runners:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
Which are you going to be a fat and lazy jogger, or a running who keeps going. Get out there and go, or as the Message says “Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.“