Welcome to the Confessing Runner.
**Kind of a strange name. What in the world is he confessing? That he’s a runner? That he’s an addict? A running addict? I don’t get it.**
Yeah, I know. It’s a bit strange, and it probably calls for an explanation of who I am and what I’m trying to do here.
This blog is intended to be a sacred space of inspiration, mostly targeted at runners and endurance athletes, but open to everyone. The “confessing” portion of the title refers to several things.
First, and as a foundation, this blog confesses Christ—the Christ of scripture as confessed when Christ followers across the centuries have said, “Jesus is Lord.” I am trying to figure out what “Jesus is Lord” means in the 21st century, especially in the life of a middle-aged dad and husband who sometimes wonders whether he really believes that, and often does a pretty poor job of living it out daily.
Second, the “confessions” referred to in the title of the blog refer to the historic confessions of the Christian faith. I intend and hope to use those confessions and scripture as a weekly springboard for exploring life and faith, especially through the eyes of an endurance athlete. If I carry through on the plan, expect a weekly post in time for your weekend long run.
But, why these confessions?
Well, a good reason would be that I’m certainly not smarter or wiser than the people in history that wrestled with truth and theology. Anyone who searches for truth while reinventing the wheel is likely wind up with a decidedly unround, Rube Goldberg machine. Indeed, one of the deficiencies of the modern church (and modern spirituality) is to forget the foundations of the past (or even deny that there are such things as firm foundations) fight the same debates over and over again, and then wonder why the ride is so bumpy. I’d rather recognize my own limitations, start with a wheel that worked in the past, and see if and how it still rolls.
Another good reason? When I believe, I believe that the confessions are true. I am an elder in the Presbyterian church; but my journey, even since being ordained, has included times when I am secure in my faith, and times when I wonder if any of it is true, times when I live out my faith, and times when I fail completely.
Even as I write these sentences, even as I contemplate trying to write this blog, I have voices in my head doubting whether I should continue, whether I really still believe it all, and saying quite forcefully that such an unsteady Christ follower has no business starting a blog like this. I imagine people who really know me wondering, “who does he think he is writing a God blog?” I don’t know. Maybe I’m even starting the blog in an effort to believe again, an effort to become more steady.
Suffice it to say, as the writer of this blog, I am not the authority. I am just the conversation starter. Persons of any faith or no faith at all are welcome in this conversation. I will put out a post on which you can comment here or on which you can meditate and chew while you run. If you choose to comment, there’s only one rule: the Golden Rule. Treat others (including me) with the same kindness and respect that you would want to receive.
Now, get ready to run.
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