Limited by Design

Sunday night I went for a run. I usually run at night because to me it's a really great opportunity to just get out while everything is quiet and clear my head. It's a rare treasure in an inner-city life. I also choose to run at night because I can push myself a lot farther,and burn more calories than I would be able to under the sun. Well I hadn't run in about a week,so I decided tonight I was going to push myself a little harder. So I packed on my backpack with about 10 extra pounds. To increase my performance I also ran a little faster than usual. I wasn't really sure how far I wanted to run, but 4 miles sounded about right. By the time I got to 3.85, I felt like I should have already made 4,but I went ahead and pushed it anyway.

 While I was doing my post-run stretch a man sleeping on a bench in front of the car got my attention. I recognized him from previous runs in the area. His name was Nate, I asked him how he was doing and he told me he had been down on his luck lately and couldn't find work. I didn't have a job for him,and since I don't have my own place I couldn't offer him a bed. But I had been reading in James 2 where it says "Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing and you say "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does it do?"  and so it's becoming harder to turn a blind eye to things. So I asked him what he did need,he told me bug spray,because Houston has been hit by a Mosquito frenzy lately.So finally after going to 3 stores to find some, I did.

But after a brief conversation with Nate while driving away I couldn't help but look at the two situations. So often it seems we all think we're the king of the world. We're all special, we can do anything. Go anywhere. Nothing can stop us. We think we're beastly. But that's not how it is. We were Created, we didn't invent ourselves. Why can't I just run forever without my shoulders and knees telling me to stop? Why did Nate have to get old? Why does he have to sleep with ear plugs in his ears so bugs won't craw in? Because we are limited.
 I'm a Christian and I forget this everyday. I think I'm better than someone else,or I'm cooler because I liked the way I looked today,or because of something I made. Then a mental pathway starts to lead towards the Temple for my own praise. But I still get tired,hungry,thirsty,angry,lonely,and older.

But it's like I said, we are limited by design. It's for a reason,it's for a purpose. And if that's true that means I can take joy in it. Because everything I am not, everything that falls just out of reach, God is. He is Limitless. And so for that reason, I will take joy in this limited life until the day I trade these scars for crowns.