A Runner’s Meditation
breathe in:
one – two – three – four
breathe out:
one – two – three – four
hold back. sink down
one – two – three – four
lap two on the way to . . . ? can I make four miles today?
yes
shoulders relax. drop down. don’t push forward.
breathe in:
one – two – three – four
breathe out:
one – two – three – four
focus on the tree out the far window
lean into the turn
pass that walker, with head phones and a dark pony tail every time in the same place . . . going twice as fast as she is
lap seven. half a mile
definitely feels like four
hold back . . . Â don’t push
just lean gently into the run
it’s a controlled fall
catch yourself with each step
center line straight and tilting slightly forward
see the tree . . . internalize its form . . . straight, tall, grounded
let gravity do its work
lap 13 . . . one mile
water . . . grab the bottle . . .  don’t break stride  . . . two drinks . . . another lap . . . set it back on the ledge
now i’m going . . . mind is free to ask a question:
what does this practice of falling gently teach me?
breathe in: one – two – three – four
where are the connections?
breathe out: one – two – three – four
shoulders back and down
stop pushing
fall gently . . . hold back
lap 20 – two hands in the air – Â yes
the reign of God is like . . . ?
breathe in: one – two – three – four
what did Jesus say about falling? anything? what about following?
breathe out: one – two – three – four
don’t just fall shoulders-first, bent over
straight line from head to heart to hips to knees and feet
swan dive . . . gently falling
lap 26 Â . . . mile two
water . . . two gulps, don’t break stride
no. that can’t be it.
breathe in: one – two – three – four
what someone said about Jesus falling?
breathe out: one – two – three – four
emptiness. no. giving it all away. not.
wrong move.
yet my body says so.
pushing doesn’t work. too much energy. not much in return.
falling gently. let gravity do its work.
join in the flow that is already flowing.
go in the way that is already going.
Was God already going to us, when Christ fell slowly into Jesus?
Is God already and always leaning into us? With us. Among us. Falling slowly into our lives?
Lap 31 . . . thirsty . . . wait
breathe in: one – two – three – four
this falling, sacrificing, giving is not just to be emulated.
breathe out: one – two – three – four
it is to be received. welcomed.
falling slowly and not pushing is learning about God’s falling. but . . .
lap 39. mile three. water. ahhh.
but not  about me having to be God. of course not.
breathe in: one – two – three – four
receive: one – two – three – four
breathe out: one – two – three – four
live: one – two – three – four
lap 40 – hands in the air
counting on fingers . . . going with the flow
a faster runner joins us on the lap track. he’s lapping me
feel the competition tighten the muscles
shoulders back and down
breathe in: one – two – three – four
stop pushing
breathe out: one – two – three – four
fall gently . . . hold back
lap 48. almost there
sprint the final laps?
yes
lean totally into the flow
when the fast guy goes by lapping me, fall faster
lean into the gravity
feel the high of running full out
finish exhausted and satisfied
breathe in: one – two – three – four
slow down
breathe out: one – two – three – four
walk around . . . one more lap
deep, deep breath
thanks to the tree
to my body for carrying me
thanks for water
and kenosis
yes
