run the race marked out for you.

run the race!

RUN!!!!!

i am thinking on these thoughts.

In order to sin, I have to stop pursuing and loving Christ.

I have to bet everything on the hope of eternity.

RUN!!!

run the race!

run the race marked out for you.

I have to remember constantly that He will carry me through by His grace.  May I have the faith.

RUN!!!

i walk up to the doors.  they slowly drag open.  immediately a wind tunnel is birthed and my hair gets messed up.  the wind tunnel dies when i step through the other pair of doors that slowly rake open.  now i am in the store. i walk to the side wall, avoiding people.  i don't want them to see my name tag.  my mind has nit-pickish thoughts-i don't want to have to help people when i'm not on the clock, right??? what an inconvenience! it's already one to do it when i am getting paid-i dismiss the thoughts.  but my far wall walking and quick, stealth moves to the break room proves otherwise.  the first thing i have to do is look at the schedule or i can't cope. period. or so i think.  i look at the dreadful schedule.  i am on register 2 at the front.  just great. really.  great!  the sarcasm is so clear in my thoughts, its almost audible.  but of course i am on register 2.  that's my lot.  alone half the time with the phone ringing off the hook with customers asking you questions and quests as if you have all the time in the world and your the store's computer database.  and there's usually no one to transfer these gargantuan issues to-i love a skeleton crew, and this one is even missing bones.  i sigh and go hang my coat.  i turn and trudge into the break room and look at the clock.  10 till.  i always get here early.  on purpose.  i have to mentally prepare myself; do my routine.  i look at my reflection in the vending machine.  oh yeah, my hair is messed up-can't have that can we?  i stealthily fast walk to the bathroom.  safe!  i look in the mirror.  i stare at myself-another day...another dollar?  no that's not me.  more like-here we go again.  i turn on the faucet, hot but not burning.  i still make that mistake though.  i dab my hair like the finishing touches to a painting.  sorry to say, then i empty the bladder.  ok, i'm leaving.  back to breakroom, and then looking at the schedule maybe three or four times more, even though i know what it says.  i find my punch card amidst the others on the rack.  i find it where i usually put it.  top right.  who knows why?  it's easy to find.  i watch the punch card computer clock.  one more minute.  it feels like 3.  then it makes a buzz-click like a fly.  it's time.  i slide my card in without any finesse.  it makes a sound like a book is being ripped in half, then it slides out.  sigh....time to work.  then i think...man i already act like i've been workin here for six years.  i have issues.

Today Tyler and I went to my dad's farm to help him with putting up new gates to all the pasture on his 27 acre farm. We had a great time together and with my dad.  We dug post holes in the mud, nailed fences, spent our breaks among sheep, goats, dogs, cows, chickens, and a cat.  We also took a stroll into the deep woods.  The weather was not too warm, not too cold, with a touch of a nice breeze.  The sound of silence instead of cars.  There is nothing quite like it actually.  It really helps perspective.  I always love doing stuff like that.  They are memories that are cherished. 

And we knew we were out in the boonies when we had absolutely no cell phone signal.  I am glad Tyler got to see the farm and experience it, as well as meet my dad.  It was important to me.  I also got to know Tyler much better.  It was the only time really hangin out with him without anyone else.  We usually are a big group.  So it was different, and interesting, and great.  And when we got back, we talked about our trip in a sort of "back to the real world" style yet Tyler said something...and put it perfectly.

He said that being out there felt more realistic than it does here, back in town.  I'll let you ponder that and what it means to you.  But I thought it was perfect.