The Inside Out

It’s been a Needtobreathe kind of week. As in, since we bought their new album, The Outsiders, I think I’ve listened to it a million times. And this week that’s all I’ve listened to. If I still bought CDs, this one would be worn out. My kids are even singing “We are the outsiders” as we drive around. Not sure they know what that means but they know the words! Every song on this album has something that has hit me at different points while I’m listening to it but this week it was Through Smoke. What a song. The lyrics are always the most important part of music for me (unless it’s Dave Mathews Band…) but Needtobreathe’s lyrics are the icing on their musical cake. Here’s the lyrics to the song: (And Click Here for a listen…you won’t be disappointed.)

Before the Truth will come to fill our eyes
The world comes down in the form of fire
And when the answers and the Truth
have cut their ties

Will you still find Me
Will you still see Me
Through smoke, through smoke

I was born in a house in a town just like your own
I was raised to believe in the power of the unknown
‘Cause when the answers and the Truth
take different sides

Will you still find Me
Will you still see Me
Through smoke, through smoke

When their whispers
have painted pictures
that make you doubt what you once believed in
Paper stories
that hide the Glory
to keep us searching
Through smoke

Who do you believe when you can’t get through
When everything you know seems so untrue
When I’m lost in a place that I thought I knew
Give me some way that I might find You…..

Through smoke.

Like I said. What a song. What do you do when you can’t see Him for the smoke? Through the people, through the problems, through the mess of life. When the world comes down in the form of fire…when you feel lost, do you still ache to see Him?

Today was the half way mark in my training for the half marathon and God presented me with a 70 degree day in February! Only in SC. Apparently that made anyone and everyone show up at my favorite running spot today! The fam and I headed to Riverfront park about 2:30 with a billion other people. We couldn’t even find a parking place! Scott and the kids were going to bike ride so I took off and they planned to catch up as soon as they could.

There’e been a lot of talk about treadmill running and outdoor running lately, particularly from Runner’s World. Right when I started running, I remembered the twitter that I recently saw from Cool Running kind of asking the question: What’s the difference to you in a treadmill run vs. outdoors and why you like one or the other. And today I answered that for myself:

PEOPLE.

This isn’t a technical, logical or even scientific answer, but  that is definitely my answer! Now, I’ve been confined to the treadmill for several weeks because of the cold or finding the time to run, so I was starting to really enjoy my ‘mill. I was kickin’ out some decent runs and catching up on episodes of Lost…all was good! But today’s weather was way perfect and drew me outside for my long run! As I got started there was this girl running in front of me, going what I would call “slow” (she was probably flying but she looked like she was slow to me!). And she had next to nothing on. And was covered in tattoos. Now please don’t think I’m judging cause I’m not against tattoos at all! But these were the things that were defining the skinny mini in front of me – and she was challenging me some. So I said ok…I’ll try to pass her. At this point my ipod was blasting a little Addison Road This Could be Our Day and I’m thinking “Yeah, my day…I’m rockin’!” So about a mile or so later I pass her, then I walk and she passes me, then I realize she’s wearing makeup and dangling earrings and I’m even more motivated to top this person I’ve never even met…and I pass her again. She’s probably the nicest, best friend, spreading the love of Jesus to the world and feeding starving people girl around…but today she was my nemesis. Then Man-who-Runs-So-Fast-I-Look-Like-I’m-Standing-Still passes me. Ugh. So, Riverfront ends at the clever little dam that creates a beautiful waterfall and since I’m ahead of Girl-Who-Runs-With-Tats. All is good. I ran the little bridge at the end and started my turn around to head back and I realize…she turned early. That’s cheating! She didn’t even go to the end of the trail! Oh no she didn’t! And now, we’re running. Christy Nockels is egging me on with Let My Life Light Up and I’m on fire! Fire I tell you! And U2 tells me the Streets Have No Name (I’m secretly wishing it had been Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For to keep me going but I’m just lettin’ it play!). But my perspective gets a little changed. I start noticing the kids and the puppies on the path today, the bikes and the birds. Then I pass Kid-With-Too-Much-Static-in-His-Hair and giggle a bit. Then I see my family and my baby boy who is riding his two wheel bike like the big boy he is, and he’s smiling at me. Huge smile. Yes it’s only mile 4 but I’m feeling much better! After a little family love I follow them out. And I pass the bridge that the homeless people live under. And all their stuff that’s usually there is gone. Perspective change #2. What a silly thing I am to be worrying about some girl when there are people with no homes, no nothing, right next to where I am. And Steve Fee reminds me, Glory to God Forever.

People surround you when you run outside, and they have the ability to effect your run – good or bad, but that’s up to you. So I ran the longest I ever have before today. 6 miles. In an hour and 6 minutes. Not bad for a girl who’s only been training for 2 months! But I owe a thanks to the pretty girl who made me work for it today. Hope you finished well today, Girl-Who-Kept-Me-Going. Thanks.