I run around the lake sun peaking over the horizon.
And I feel it. Life. My body stays in motion as I round the water. The fine mist of dawn takes on glimmers of gold.
It’s the promise. Every morning a sunrise. The great hope of Day.
I breathe in and out. The muscle memory in my legs keeps me on pace. Each stride a reminder of all which comes before. In the physical act of running alone, there’s been falls and visits to the ER and dentist. In the on-going journey with mental illness, there’s been hospital stays and putting one foot in front of another to simply walk this life.
How in Heaven’s name have I gotten here? The scars on my skin mirror those on my heart. Yet life. Running free mile after mile and…life.
As the sun glistens in front of my eyes, it is bright. This is Florida after all. I smile back and give a sassy wink, ‘you will not slow me down’, I say.
This is what it is meant to be. This is ‘all things new’. This is redemption.
It’s a discipline, my morning runs. I do not love these first moments of day. Often I have slept right through them. But I am learning, oh how I am learning, to rise.
Rise.
My word for this year. It is time. After all, it is Grace.
The words of this song, sung at our wedding:
‘Dark, dark hath been the midnight,Â
but dayspring is at hand.Â
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.’
They are echoed in the Song of Solomon.
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
    and come away,
11Â for behold, the winter is past;
    the rain is over and gone.
12Â The flowers appear on the earth,
    the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtle-dove
   is heard in our land”
Song of Solomon 2:10-12
‘Arise my love’ I hear him say. ‘Even as the sun rises, so will you. For I am author of it all and I say, ‘Rise’. This is what I have written for you. This is the New Day I have promised. So arise, dear one.’
I have laid down in the darkest of nights. The cold…so cold. And yet, every morning the sun has come up to light this world. Could it be? Today is the New Day. The hope of life given for all mankind. And it’s time. Time to arise and meet it.
I run around the lake another time. My feet keeping time with the beat of this new light.Â
Arise.
