Running Scared

Since being appointed at Trinity, I’ve regularly gone for runs at the local community center. During many of those runs I’ve seen rabbits, deer, and other wildlife. Thankfully, I’ve only come across a snake once — and I barely saw the back end disappear into the brush.

Well, that streak ended recently. A week or so ago, I crossed paths with three snakes in one run! My take on snakes is much like Indiana Jones’—“I hate snakes.” I know, I know… some snakes are the “good” kind or are integral for the ecosystem, blah blah blah. I’ll just say there’s a reason that evil is depicted as a serpent in the Genesis story.

Ever since that run, I’ve found myself constantly scanning the trail. Every fallen branch or shadow makes me jump. It’s taken away from the peaceful thinking time I usually enjoy while I’m out there.

It occurred to me that life can be a lot like that. Once we’ve been surprised or hurt, it’s easy to start running through life with our eyes darting side to side, expecting something bad to happen again. We become so focused on what might go wrong that we miss what’s right in front of us — the beauty, the blessings, the joy God has placed along the path.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” That doesn’t mean life will be snake-free — far from it. But it does mean that we don’t have to live in constant fear of what’s hiding in the grass. When our eyes stay fixed on Christ, we can run with confidence, knowing that He’s already overcome the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

So maybe the lesson is this: keep your eyes open, but keep your heart open too. Don’t let fear of the next “snake” steal the joy of the journey. After all, even the path that surprises us can still lead us closer to God.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester