Running, Talents and Worship

I am at Coffee Cat as I write. I figured all the serious bloggers must blog from coffee shops, so I should give it try. It is also a lot easier to focus away from my house. My house is one of the hardest places to get anything done. A pit of distraction so to speak =). I went on the longest run I have ever been on this afternoon. I literally ran from one end of Scotts Valley to the other and back. I started at my house and just kept running. About half way through I was wondering what I got myself into. It was a nice run - I enjoyed it. Now I will have to drive it to find out how many miles it was. Unfortunately, I did something to my foot. I am hoping it is one of those things that will disappear overnight. I think ice will be required later tonight. Bummer.

I love to run. I know this is hard for most people to understand. Running isn't always fun for me sometimes I flat out don't want to run, but I'm almost always glad I did. Then there are other times I want to run and love every minute of it. I love running a new path or somewhere beautiful. West Cliff drive is hands down my favorite place to run. I think this a gift God gave me. A way for me express my love for him. Running is a way to use the legs God gave me and way to enjoy his creation. It allows an outlet for everything that has built up during day and a time for him to speak to me. All of us have God given passions or hobbies that we enjoy. We don't always think of using this talent as a way to worship. I encourage you to try it whether it is running, playing baseball, painting, writing and so forth.

There is a parable about a rich man and his servants. He gives each one of his servants a different amount of talents. Talents was the currency of that time. Two of the servants invest the talents and earn more talents for the rich man. A third servant buries and doesn't use the talent given him. The rich man is pleased with the first two servants and very disapointed with the third. I have always thought of the parable in terms of talents as the way we use the word today. If God gives us talents and gifts we should develop and use those gifts. He didn't give us talents for us to sit on the bench. He gave us talents, so that we can glorify him through the gifting he gave us.

This is my hitch hiking picture I took for the newsletter I am going to send out in the mail. My mom laughed at my shoes - I guess there not entirely practical for hitch-hiking =) I think the point still gets across - I can't get to Convoy of Hope by myself I need your help!