#5kMay2018 Day 19

Wow! What a day! I woke up, drank a cup of coffee, enjoyed a nice Saturday morning, and then went for a nice little Apple Creek 5k.

I ran 3.1 miles in 24 minutes and 15 seconds for an average pace of 7:49. Nice and easy… I ran a different route today. Part of today’s route was the second half of the “JPM 5k & Musik Fest” 5k in reverse. It was pretty hilly!

When I got back, I noticed a text on my phone from my buddy (and 3 time “Top Male” of the JPM 5k & Musik Fest) Derrick Miller. He has had a longstanding goal of running a 5k in 16 minutes and 39 seconds. This morning he did it! He reached his goal! From the looks of it, he came across the line exactly at 16:39. Great job, Derrick! Derrick is also a part of the “5k Every Day in the Month of May” challenge, so I guess that goes to show you that #5kMay2018 makes you stronger!! (Hehe)

After eating lunch, Jodi and I joined some friends from church in Wooster, OH for a “Downtown Runaround” challenge. We ended up running / walking nearly 6 miles while solving puzzles, completing challenges, and snapping pictures as evidence that we were at the right place at the right time. It was a blast! We were far from first place, but we had a lot of fun.

It has been a full day. The verse that stood out to me this morning as I was reading my Bible was Luke 12:35

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning… (Luke 12:35, ESV)

These things are fun! I enjoyed my morning 5k! I am happy for Derrick! Jodi and I had a blast in the “Downtown Runaround”! But all of these things pale in comparison to Jesus!

One day He will return. He will come back for His bride, and He will take us to be with Him forever! In that moment, I will not say, “Um, Lord, could you wait until after this 5k? I’m kind of in the middle of a #5kMay2018 Challenge…” I am not going to say, “I actually have a running goal that I would still like to meet…” or “I was actually just about to do a Downtown Runaround thing, can you come back in a couple of hours?”

These things that we fill our days with are great. There is nothing innately sinful or evil about them. But if they cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus, if they cause us to cease to stay dressed for action, if they cause our lamps to go out, then they are a problem!

I am not saying that we should just sit around and wait for the return of Christ. By no means! I am saying that in everything that we do, we should be mindful that His return could be right now.

Or right now.

Or right now.

You get the picture.

Let’s enjoy this life to the fullest, for Jesus came that we may have life and may have it to the full (see John 10:10)! God is a good Father who has given us so much here on earth to experience and enjoy! But as we go, may we stay dressed for action and keep our lamps burning.

*5k Every Day in the Month of May 2018 is brought to you by Jeff Polen Music and Vertical Runner of Wooster. If you are joining the fun, don’t forget about the Facebook group, the Strava group, and the printable PDF.