Running a Marathon

So often in life, I wished I could say 'I have arrived'. But over time, I've learned that I'll never get there until the very end (and that is the day until I get to see Jesus face-to-face). Each day is another step down the road, down this path of human existence. Each day has its challenges, which vary amongst different people. Somehow when we decide that we have had enough, we are asked to stretch a bit more. And eventually, it feels like running a marathon - the one that will never stop. Yet, it is not because we don't want to stop. In fact, we are so short of breaths, we would really prefer to stop. But then if we stop, it is as if something would explode. You get the picture.

To be honest, I don't know how anyone can keep going on like that, but somehow, many people do. I am going to happily admit that I don't have all the answers on how people do it, because it changes all the time. Perhaps, one time, you may find comfort reading a book, and then another time, you prefer to go on a road trip. But what is most important in this never-ending journey is finding God 'again'. I say 'again' not because we have lost him. In fact, there are days that we are more desperate for him, and those can also be the days that we encounter God's 'silence'. The reason I say 'finding God again' is because in our struggles or 'darker' periods of life we are often clouded by our own pains that we cannot 'feel' God's goodness or love. And to find God again means that we must learn to find ways that connect us to God during those times.

Being a disciple of Christ is never an easy journey, especially when all you want to do is to bring him glory. On top of that, life is already not such a steady road, so that adds to it all. Courage and faith are the two characters that can help us through life. The more we discover them, the more we find our feet on the ground. If you have your faith in God and your focus on him despite how fallen apart your life may be, then you have already got those characters! And that is worth celebrating. As to how to connect to God in those times, take some time to enjoy life. Allow yourself to take your mind off the disappointments, the discouragements and the stresses. (If there is something that you're trying to fix and can't, then just take a step back - but don't stop believing for good, for a breakthrough or for a miracle.) While you explore nature, read a good book, listen to some music (movie soundtracks and classical musics usually do the trick for me), or play a musical instrument or dance, you may just find God again. In that, you learn something new that you have not before whether it be about you, God, people, creatures or nature. Perhaps, you might discover a bit about God's creation that you had not previously. Maybe you would get the chance to experience more of God's love for you. It would be simple for me to tell you exactly what to do to be in a good place, but because not one person is the same with another, it is up to each one of us to explore our ways of relating to God in all 'walks' of life. So, allow yourself time to know yourself and to know God, and enter into this 'magical' world of God, where you can feel his peace, love and presence surrounding you. And lastly, take time to pray and meditate. I recommend Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster if you are looking to learn more ways of connecting with God.

May the Lord guide you and grant you peace.