I don't often exercise with an iPod. The last time I really remember listening to music while I ran was when I was in high school and the "DiscMan" was a novelty. That was a pain. Did I sign up for a run or an upper body workout?
Anyway. Back to my point.
The other day, my mum encouraged me to do so. Just to get my mind off the workout and tune my mind to some solid worship while I was out enjoying the woods. So, like any well-trained child would do...
I listened to my mother.
I plugged-in my iPod and toted it with me on the trail (much easier than the Stone-age Discman).
I put the earbuds in, lightly wrapped the extra cord around my hand, shook myself out and started up the trail.
....but then one of the earbuds popped out. So I fumbled to get it back in place. At which time, I lost sound in my left ear. So I twisted the cord this way and that, trying to get it to come back. Which almost made me drop the iPod itself, because of course, I am too stubborn to stop running on the trail - lest my heart rate go down - and fix it. So, here I am, zig-zagging down the trail, left hand fixing the earbud, right hand twirling the iPod like a baton and thinking to myself: Why did I bring this thing again?
Oh yeah. Because I wanted to focus. Ha.
So, finally , after all my finagling, I had full sound, ear buds that were staying in place and I was setting a gentle, straight pace down through the woods. While I was running, I found that I really did enjoy having the worship music sounding in my ears.
The words seemed to penetrate to my soul and with every breath I took in, the truth the lyrics proclaimed became a part of me.
After I finished my run, I drove back to my apartment and fixed some lunch, and decided it would be nice to go relax down by the water....
....it was then that I realized something.
I was still hearing music.
I hadn't shut my iPod off or taken the earbuds out after my run. The music was still playing.
After all the fuss of getting those things set in my head, I didn't feel them anymore. I didn't notice the weight of the iPod in my pocket. I didn't feel the pressure of the earbuds.
All I heard was music. Almost as if it was simply a part of me.
I got thinking about all the things that go through my head everyday. Thoughts that I have to fight. Self-criticism, critique, self-judgement and condemnation.
I thought about what I need to do to combat that: Speak Truth to my heart.
It can be so hard somedays, because the lies have been a habit for so long. I've been running without Truth for so long...
...I have to fuss with the earbuds, because they keep falling out. Sometimes they both don't work. Sometimes I drop the iPod.
But, when all is said and done; the earbuds are in, the iPod is firmly in my grip and I'm running straight down the trail...
...I won't notice them anymore. The music, the Truth, will be like breathing. It will be part of my soul.
Sometimes, it just takes a little effort to get it started.
"...for your love is ever before me, I walk continually in Your Truth." Psalm 26:3
