This question is a struggle for me. There are so many things in this life that we run from. What we run from determines what kind of person we are or at least what kind of person the outside world sees. So I ask again what are you running from?
I have spent a lot of time running. I have run from pain. I mean who wants to get hurt. When I was in the seventh grade I wasn’t nearly as confident as I am now or as big so when one of the school bullies decided he wanted to fight with me before we got on the bus after school I ran. First one on the bus that day, first time ever lol. I didn’t know if I could fight or if he could but I ran because I was terrified at the thought of finding out that day.
I have run from my feelings. For a lot of the same reasons. Feelings can be more damaging than physical pain. Bruises heal, bones mend, and scars make great stories, unless they are emotional scars that no one can see or even worse know about. Feeling unloved by the ones you love the most will leave that kind of scar.
I have run from commitments, because I struggled with being good enough. I wouldn’t commit to doing anything out of fear of not being good enough, and then having to deal with rejection.
I have run from challenges out of fear of failure. My uncle was one of the most talented people I knew growing up. I thought my Uncle Bill could do anything. Everything he does he is so good at. When I got older he told me he was good at all that he done because he would only do the stuff he was good at. I have been scared to try to do things because what if I’m not good at it, what if I can’t do it, what if I fail?
The most painful thing though is the realization that I have run from God. God places people in your life for you to teach or for you to learn from. There have been so many people that I didn’t teach for a lot of the same reason as above, and countless others that I didn’t try to learn from. There have been so many opportunities placed in my life for me to grow and become a better me, but I have allowed them to pass me by for fear of the unknown.
As I’ve gotten older I have changed my opinion on running. I realize that running from things doesn’t eliminate the problems, the fears, or the anxiety it just makes it worse. If you are always left wondering what could’ve been then you’ll never be happy with what you have been given. Instead of running from things now i will more likely run to them. I realize that meeting challenges head on makes even the most insurmountable obstacle look small. When you choose to take on your tests you are more likely to achieve your goals. And when you run to God instead of from him you will find a more forgiving love than you can even imagine.
I love you.
bradglenn79 