Today I had a great run.
It was a great run for a couple of reasons. 1. Physically, it was a really consistent pace with virtually no stops. 2. God really showed up, or should I say, I really listened well today.
You see, my typical M.O. for running it so watch my pace and try to keep a brisk clip going based on the pace (minutes per mile). But today I strapped on the heart monitor and decided to run based on a consistent heart rate, paying no attention to how fast I was running other than how fast my heart beat and how hard I was breathing.
I noticed something on the way “back” (I run an “out and back” loop most days) today. If I focused on my breathing and intentionally inhaled in deeper, through my nose, for three steps and exhaled consistently through my mouth, for 3 steps, I could lower my heartbeat by 5-7 beats per minute.
It was hard to maintain. It was not natural. It took effort. But it worked.
I tend to think of running posture as something that just “happens” naturally. But today showed me that when I focus on it, I am able to override “natural.” Physiologically, when I run with my head held high, looking forward, and my shoulders high and tall, then my chest has the best possible opportunity to fully expand allowing more oxygen-rich air to come into my lungs. As I focus on taking longer, deeper breaths, I get more “good” air in. I also have to focus on exhaling “bad” air out, intentionally trying to empty my lungs of oxygen depleted air to make room for more O2-rich air. I tend to notice that inhaling is not something I naturally focus on.
As I get tired, I naturally begin to let my shoulders “sag” and my back to slightly hunch over which keeps my lungs from expanding as much and keeps more of the oxygen-depleted air in my lungs. This results in my heart working harder – to the tune of 5-7 beats a minute – based on today’s run.
If you’ve read my blogs long, you know that I believe most physical observations have a spiritual connotation.
The idea of spiritually breathing is not a new one. It is simply the practice of Exhaling (Confession) and Inhaling (being filled with the Holy Spirit).
1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive our sins. This is the process of getting all the “oxygen-depleted” air out of our lungs. Sin keeps us from staying in step with the Lord and can hamper our walk with the Lord due to fear, or the inability to hear Him clearly.
Paul writes in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That literally translates to “keep on being filled” indicating that it’s not a one-time event… kinda like breathing in. Again, this is not something I naturally focus on. My natural self tends to lean to the “one-time event” versus a continual focus to “keep on being filled.”
Today I had a great run.
Running After Papa…