With all my heart and soul, I always long for summer. I look forward to the long, sunny days and often am nostalgic about the heat, and staying up late with friends talking about hopes and dreams. Unfortunately I think the last time I stayed up late with friends basking in the warm evening air was probably college. Yea, I’m pretty sure. Anyway, but I do always look forward to the warmer days and nights… except I always forget: I CAN’T SLEEP WHEN IT’S HOT!
I think my room is about 15 degrees hotter than the rest of the house, because it faces west, where the sun sets. LAME. Yes, I’ve tried fans, I sleep with only a sheet… everything. Nothing helps. I really, honestly sleep best in the cold, it’s weird.
Anyway, along with the summer come temperatures much too hot and uncomfortable for running, so, I try to get in the habit of waking up early and running. So, combine not being able to fall asleep in heat, and being anxious about waking up at 6 a.m. and that means hardly no sleep.
But there’s nothing like waking up early and going running, even with little sleep. Sloppy form, heavy breathing… but a still, quiet morning before a busy day is so worth it. Our house sits in a newer neighborhood, but is just next door to the “country”, so I can run the country roads, say a friendly “hello” to the horses and cows as I run by. Today as I went on a quick 3-mile jaunt I was reminded of Nagaland, India. Daniel and I would wake up and go for runs early in the morning, and all the locals seemed to stare at us, like we were so strange for going running. Or it could have been that it was obvious we were foreigners because of what we looked like, but also because we looked like fools, running up and down the long, main road that seemed to stretch for eternity. The air was thick and warm, much too warm for 6 a.m., but we went running anyway. The women with their water jars balanced on their heads, and the men pulling their old wooden, heavy carts down the road, with an occasional car zipping past us. Those were good days. Those were simple days as I processed through 4 long years of college, and looked forward to dreaming new dreams ahead of me.
Today reminded me of being overseas. Hearing roosters crow as I ran my usual loop reminded me of everywhere but here. India, Thailand, Nicaragua, Mexico… everywhere. But. Here. Anywhere but here.
It’s funny how we often perceive life to be. Seemingly insignificant moments can quickly catch us off guard and become significant moments.
Though I feel restless, I’m thankful and grateful. Thankful for the past memories, and grateful for grace as I look toward the future.
Along these roads, we used to run, with the rice fields all around, and the beauty of India:
Miss our chats and runs Daniel!!
somehow beautiful 