MARATHON SERIES III : How'd I get that bruise?

I turned the corner, finish line in view, strangers and family cheering me on as I finished what would be a great accomplishment— 42 KM of straight running, no stopping. A final burst of energy and adrenaline came over me as I sped past a few more runners taking that intentional step across the finish line. As my sneaker made it’s way to full contact on that last step across the line I thought, “YES!”

A few minutes later after my awesome fiance & future Mother & Father in law greeted me with hugs and water and smiles I started to feel this weird sensation on my lower back, an intense bruise. I quickly realized that the small “runners fanny pack” that I had been wearing around my waist for the past 42 km had overtime, actually intensely bruised my back.

The funny thing is, I didn’t even realize it during the run. I was distracted by the task at hand, and the work I was exerting to reach my goal.

It’s also interesting that this fanny pack is as light mesh as you could get, it doesn’t seem heavy, it wasn’t necessarily a concern of mine, but it did have a huge impact on my back as the small weight of it throughout 42 km compounded on my back over time. For the next week, I was left with a very tender bruise.

Okay Ashley, so you got a bruise on your lower back. Tough cookie? My point isn’t that the bruise was a big deal, but what this experience represents is a big deal.

In life, it’s important that we continually evaluate what we are carrying that maybe we need to set aside and lay down. Things that we need to trust in God’s hands and not our own. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, sometimes this is something we have to do everyday. Lay down our worries, or cut unhealthy things out of our lives that we are carrying as weights. We need to free ourselves from that which may weigh us down even in the slightest bit. That little stress, or that slightly unhealthy relationship may not seem to be sinking your ship right now, but compounded over time, you may be left with a bruise and wonder… “Where did this come from?!”

I love how Hebrews 12 says let us strip off every weight that slows us down. What proverbial fanny pack is tied around your waist that you need to cut loose, you need to lay aside, or place in God’s hands.

Whatever that may be, I encourage you to evaluate what it is you are carrying so that you can free yourself up daily, trusting in God’s provision and not your own, cutting the negativity our of your life and focusing on the positive, so that you don’t find yourself 42 km in with a bruise.

Maybe you have a bruise already. Well good news. Bruises heal. <3

All my love,

Ashley XOXO