Glimpse of God for the week of October 19, 2025

Last week I focused on walking and some of the instruments we use to assist us on our walks with our Lord and each other. This week I would like to focus on running.  We often hear or find ourselves saying, “I have to run and get something, or I’m running out of time, or it runs in the family, I have to run some errands, or I’m running out of gas.  No matter what or how we say it, running brings about an image of someone or something going at a quick pace, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we are actually running, it is more like a figure of speech that enables us to form an image. No matter how old we are, we often find ourselves running and for the sake of this glimpse, I would ask; what are we running toward or what are we running from?

We often see others, or find ourselves, using instruments to assist us as we walk, it could be a  wheel chair, walker, cane, or a rollator., either one of these or a combination of them. And whatever the case may be and how long we need to use them, they are there to assist us so that we don’t fall and cause ourselves harm. What happens if we discard the tools that help us keep our balance, and try to do it all on our own? We would fall, break a bone, a hip an arm or a leg, we would not only hurt ourself, and our ego, but we would be in more pain than we were before. We can do more harm to ourselves if we ditch the tool and try to walk alone. We might need to use a cane, walker, rollator, wheelchair, or the hand of another to keep safe and heal in God’s time and not ours. Only God knows the depth and width of our pain and how much it is affecting our whole body and challenges us to believe that we can still become whole and healed, even if we have to use an instrument that has been provided to us.

I have 2 wonderful friends that have been provided healing instruments by God so that their body can heal. One friend just underwent hip replacement.  She started with a walker and now uses a cane. It has been 3 weeks since her surgery and not only has she been able to transition from a walker to a cane, but she does also it with great humor, strong faith and a contagious smile. (Like most of the Sisters at Assisi House) Although I think that she would rather walk fast and ditch the cane, she knows she has to be patient with herself so that her body can heal properly. My other very good friend broke her foot and did a job on her elbow. She has a boot, is in a wheelchair, but she ditched the crutches and is learning to navigate with a knee scooter. She is very limited as to what she can do at home, but in her limitations, she finds many opportunities to thank God and seek His strength when it gets to be more painful than she was prepared for. She also does it with humor, so between the two I have learned many lessons like patience, gratitude and humility. In and through the various tools or instruments that we use on our healing journey. Some might say that by being in a wheelchair, God is taking away our independence, or punishing us, or worse, abandoning us. It’s just the opposite, He is right by our side holding us up, guiding our footsteps, keeping us safe from falling. By being in a wheelchair, we learn a lesson in humility, trust, surrender and faithfulness. Although we cannot get up and walk to our destination, He takes us to that destination, lifts us up off the chair, holds us closely and encourages us to take small steps with His help so that we can see how much stronger, physically, emotionally and spiritually we have become.

Also, when I think of running, two questions come to mind; what are we running towards and what are we running from? As you reflect on the following phrases, think of how they can draw you closer (running towards) to God and or/ what fear (running from) sin, bad choices are making you run away from God.

SUNDAY – RUNNING OUT OF TIME; a deadline is quickly approaching

When we face deadlines and feel stressed out because of them, do we run towards God seeking His help, His calm and His peace, or do we run from God thinking not even He can help us make the deadline? If we are preparing to meet our God face to face and are facing our fears of death, leaving our loved ones, not being ready, the FINAL deadline,  do we seek God’s grace not to be afraid but trust in Him that He will be there to embrace us, or are we so fearful and angry that we turn away from Him because of shame, guilt, our sinfulness thinking that He will not, cannot forgive us?

MONDAY – RUNNING OUT OF GAS; one’s energy level is diminishing quickly

When we are out of energy because of our busy schedule, ill health, life stresses, do we run towards God seeking His grace so that we can be renewed, refreshed and rejuvenated or do we run from God so that we can continue to think we are the one and only that needs to do everything for everyone, at the risk of our compromising our own health and wellbeing?

TUESDAY – OFF AND RUNNING; – launching vigorously into a course of action

Sometimes when we have an idea or task that we are excited about completing, we invite others to participate, and we share with them our vision, goals and ideas. The energy at the beginning seemed like it would last forever, but then all of sudden, or so it seems, the energy level isn’t the same as when you started, and you began to take it a little easier. There are many times that we are off and running: a new marriage as you are planning to live with the other for the rest of your life.  You try to do so much to bring about happiness, yet you begin to realize you bring about happiness with and in God alone and in who you are not what you do. You are preparing for the birth of your first child, and  wanting to be the best parent, you research and read up on baby care do and don’ts The excitement of buying a new home, and preparing to make it your home, Receiving the sacrament of reconciliation when we  realize that we are truly forgiven and there is no more guilt, but only peace, it is then that we feel the freedom and strength that allows us to go off and running, but when we are off and running, what sets us off that makes us want to run towards God or has our course of action make us want to run away from God?

WEDNESDAY – RUNNING AROUND IN CIRCLES; to work hard at something without making any progress. Do we set goals that are so high that they do not allow us to reach our potential. Do we plan to succeed in something without asking God if that is what He wants us to succeed in?  When we run around in circles, is God at the center of that circle where we can see His will and slowly begin to walk in His path or are we running in circles because we fail to listen to His Holy Spirit and think that we have all the answers not admitting that we have none?

THURSDAY – IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY; a trait or personality characteristic is found in several family members. What character traits do you share with other family members? Do they bring you and your family members closer to God and each other, or are you blind to the similarities and seek to run away from the undeniable truth?

FRIDAY – RUNNING CIRCLES AROUND SOMEONE; to be significantly better at something than another. If you find that you are better at something than the next person because of your education level or social status, do you judge them harshly and think of them as “invisible”, making them feel as if their presence is insignificant and unimportant. All of our gifts, abilities and talents are from God. God can run circles around us if He were that kind of God, but He is not. He would prefer that we were grateful and humble in the sight of our talents, abilities and gifts. If you were given a choice to either run circles around another would you choose to do so if that were to draw you away from God or would you choose to stand wit another recognizing their talents and abilities, so that you could draw nearer to God as you see Him in another.

SATURDAY – RUNNING SCARED When you are afraid, do you allow your fears to control you so that you either run in circles or get stuck and get nowhere. Do you run away from God out of fear or do you run towards Him in trust and hope that He will receive you, fears and all, and fill you with His grace, peace and calm?

Remember: Your breath is your life, use it wisely. Your heart is big, fill it wisely. Your mind is open, expand it wisely. Your God is present, reverence Him wisely. You are God's temple, honor yourself wisely.