Wisdom in the Woods

I love running. Running by myself in the morning has been my sanity saver for a while. Then in January I hurt my knee and had to stop. I've been really disappointed for a while that I haven't been able to run because of my knees/ hips, but now I've started biking and I'm really enjoying my bike rides in the woods.  This has been a great reminder that God uses these "bad things" to work His good. Before my recent joint troubles, I'd gotten to where running was all about making certain time/ speed goals- not spending time with God. Now I love riding on the trails- so peaceful, so quiet, no traffic. This morning I saw lots of turkeys, rabbits, and squirrels. I enjoy riding with the kids, with friends, and by myself. And I feel like I hear more clearly from God during my rides. 

As I rode today, I had so many thoughts. This season has had so much tragedy. In addition, this week I've not loved that it's rained so much since that feels harder when I'm home with the kids and dogs.  But today on the trail I was thankful for all the rain. When it hasn't rained much, the trail is very sandy and it's easy for bike tires to swerve as you go down hills. But the rain really packed the sand down. I think that packed soil is like our world situation. All the storms have stripped away the loose sand.  The metaphorical storms have stripped away lots of things in our lives and people have had to face real fears and losses.  Like the packing of the trail, people's heart are now more open to see truth- including the fact that prejudice still exists in this world. Yes, some more roots were exposed, but those were already there- just covered by layers of sand. I think that's like this racial tension in our country. Unfortunately, the bad things were already there. Now social media has brought the incidents to the light where healing can be made. If we choose to pray and work toward healing.

I rode farther today than I'd ridden in a long time. At one point when it felt really hard getting up a hill, I wanted to stop. But instead I said out loud "Keep going." Again I think that really fits our world right now- yes, we've been beaten down with devastating news. Now is the time to pray harder- pray for the people who are being marginalized and being oppressed, pray for  police officers and those in authority, pray for the lost people in this world who are doing wrong including people mistreating others and people expressing their frustration in bad ways.  I am reminded of Jesus on the cross "Forgive them- they know not what they do." Now before you say they do know what they're doing. Please pray for the little brain-washed children who grow up being taught that they are superior to other races, that there should be separation between races.  "History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children."  

This condition that we're in is not a quick fix. Yes, God could come down and miraculously heal all of the sins of hate, but He doesn't usually work like that. He usually works through people like us. I pray that we are will be people who pray for and make differences in the world we're in.