Haiku and prayer

15k 92min

Ran to Sushant's house (Sushant recognized me in the dark as I ran past him while he was cooling down after his run.) and back and then a nice, peaceful run next to the lake with the early light shimmering on the water. 
I usually let my thoughts wander anywhere they like to during my runs, but sometimes they become a prayer of thanksgiving or of asking blessings for someone. Today I again realized how important it is to often turn one's thoughts to Him who gave us life and salvation.

Reedy melodies
rhythmic footfall on the path
my silent partner

I just love Haiku as a form of poetry since it often describes nature so beautifully.  It is for me an impression - just a glimpse of something that your imagination can take further.

And so on my blog I also let my thoughts wander...
But coming back to the point: I long to become more a man of prayer.

Lolololololipop.

32k 2h45min (yesterday)

I ran to the botanical garden did 5 rounds and then came back again. I saw on mapmyrun that a route where you go somewhere, run a round and then back, is called a lollipop.   In this case probably a lolololololipop! Apart from freezing fingers I had a lot of fun  (for laughing out loud...)

I cannot think of anything else to write today.

Keep running.
Stephan

Counting blessings

8k 41min + 8k 61min



It is Republic day in India. The only sign of it on my run this morning (I did two circles of the lake) were the few policemen obviously getting ready to protect some dignitaries on their way to the festivities in sector 17. Freedom is something that you do not appreciate when you have always had it, but only when you have experienced oppression and bondage.

Most good things are like that. You hardly recognize them until they are taken away.  There's this old song from Amy Grant where it says "You don't know what you've got till its gone."  This is the version of Counting Crows: http://youtu.be/FdLEdkiXm9c
I know I do not appreciate my wife and my kids as I should. And what about my work and not to mention my health and the ability to run. Irene still cannot run due to her foot injury and she is getting rather frustrated with it. She will have to work hard to get out of the "bondage" that this causes. But how much more she will appreciate the ability to run again when that day comes.

 I guess what I am saying is "count your blessings". What have you got to be thankful for. Whatever it is, it can be taken away at any moment so appreciate it while you have it! Well, almost everything can be taken away. See what the Bible says about something that cannot be taken away.

Romans 8:
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Keep running
Stephan