Running in the sand

In my small group Bible study, we're going through a study called, "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith." This week, we discussed "pivotal circumstances." I keep thinking of a time when I ran in the sand and I can't help but think there's a reason I am remembering this moment.

Let me back up to May 1999 at approximately 5 a.m. before the sun officially had risen. I had already woken up, but there was no time to brush my teeth or go to the bathroom. Reveille had already been played, our first inspection had occurred for the day, and I had already made more than a few mistakes. If you can't tell, I was at Field Training, or more commonly referred to as Boot Camp.

We began each day the same way. A 4:30 a.m. wake up call to an air horn. Lovely, hu? From that moment on, the day didn't stop. The reality was that everyone was already awake. We had a deal. If one person woke up, we woke everyone up. For me, it was to go to the bathroom so morning PT wouldn't be unbearable. The particular morning I am remembering, we ran along the beach. For the record, whoever said running along the beach was romantic must have never actually done it. It's actually really painful.

The whole group of Field Training cadets lined up in two rows. I was in Hotel Flight. That meant Alpha, Brave, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, and finally, Hotel. There were about 100 cadets in front of me. We began the silent run down to the beach. It didn't take me long to realize this was not going to be a fun morning. The sand got so trampled by the 200 running feet in front of me, that it was uneven and difficult to run in by the time my feet ran over the ground. One misstep and it was over. I focused on the sandy, disheveled ground. I began to notice the person's feet in front of me created a nicer path to run. You see, we lined up in our flights by height and usually taller people have larger feet. I happened to be one of the tallest girls in my flight and I was behind a boy with large feet. I started to run in the path that the guy in front of me was running. Where his left foot landed, my left foot landed and so on. The run was slightly easier and I continued to focus on the footprints in the sand in front of me.

I know it may be cliche, but I was reminded of the poem, "Footprints in the sand." I know the stories are different, but hey, I was running in the sand. I can't help but think if we follow the Lord with each step, He'll make our path a little easier. The reality is that He's already walked the road before us. His footprints are a lot larger than ours and if we focus on Him, then our steps won't be as disheveled. It's not easy though, or at least it isn't for me. When I was actually running in the sand, it took an immense amount of concentration to remain in the guy's footsteps. And when I somehow stepped outside his footprint, it knocked me off balance and took me quite a few steps in the torn up sand to get back on track. But I had already run in his steps before and I knew if I could get back on track, it would be worth it. It felt so good to get back on step, especially after getting off step.

My life is full of torn up sand. Sand that I know is torn up and I willingly step into. I know it's gonna knock me off step and yet I still run in the disheveled sand.

I also know that the Lord will always be running ahead of me to make my path easier, smoother and more comfortable. When I am dealt with a pivotal circumstance, I know and understand that His goodness will be revealed. Romans 8:28 tells me that no matter what, the Lord makes everything work for good - pain, joy, frustration, things I don't understand and things I sing in celebration for. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

All things. All things work for His glory and goodness. That means even the things I don't understand. That's why I try to get back on step.

I am grateful for running in the sand.