Run and Don't Stop

Yesterday night, I left my house to go down the street and take care of my neighbors dogs. They live just a few houses down

and as I left the sunset had only just begun. I was over at their house for probably about 10 minutes, and as I came out of their house I saw this red, big, bright, beautiful ball, which was the sun. It was so so beautiful, it seemed like it took up the whole entire sky, and I knew it was setting fast. For a little, I just stared in awe of it's beauty, then I realized I want to take a picture of this, and so I stopped awing for a second, and realized that in order to catch it I had to run. So, I ran to my house, as fast as I could in Birkenstocks :). I barely made it before it was out of sight. As I was running though, I wasn't thinking about how funny I might have looked, what people might be thinking if they saw me, or cared how much I was going to be coughing after running, due to me being sick, I just ran. As I stood there in awe again of the beauty of it all, I was reminded of the prodigal son parable.

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-32

The father ran to him, the father forgave him before he was asked to, and rejoiced for the returning of his son. The son also came to his father, I'm sure running to his father. When we are full of guilt, shame, and are dirty, run, run as fast as you can back to Christ. Know that you are forgiven before you ask for it, you are loved no matter what, and you're never alone. When you run back to Him, He embraces you, and rejoices that you've returned. He doesn't turn you away, call you unworthy, treat you as His servant, but as His Child. Not only do you need to run to Him when you've done wrong, but when also when everything is going right. Run to Him, Child, and don't lose sight of Him, in any circumstance. Sickness and health, rich or poor, right or wrong, He is still there, arms open, legs chasing, after you. He wants you more than anything. Run to Him when things are good, thanking Him, still trusting Him, letting Him guide you, run. Don't you ever think that He will turn you away or treat you anything less than His Child, an heir of the King of kings. When you have done something wrong, you don't have to degrade yourself, or hide from Christ, or not return to Him. Because all He wants, no matter what, is you, your heart, your soul, your everything. Your flaws, mistakes, and everything else. Don't carry your guilt any longer, carry your burdens, try and take control of your life, or think everything is going well adn you don't need Him right now. You need Him always, run to Him, always, forever, never stop, because He won't ever stop chasing you, and I know that for a fact. No matter what people think of you, if you're running by yourself and no one agrees with your faith, run, all other opinions are inadequate, God's opinion is ultimate, and if you're not pursuing Him, running to Him, in full pursuit you've got nothing to lose. If all you have is Him, you have everything. And as I was running towards this beautiful and glorious sunset and as I finally got to my house where I could see the sunset to its fullest, I thought... how much more beautiful is it when we run back to God? With us as we are, our guilt, shame, accomplishments, skills, and flaws, all of us the full, complete us. And... imagine the beauty of God?! I mean if the sunset is that beautiful, how much more beauty will God have?! It brings me so much joy, internal, real joy, even on my darkest days, I feel Him, and He shows Himself to me.