Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog: Looking for a sign

Goal weight: 185 lbs.

At mile 1.3 of my run, there is a short gravel road that takes you to a small lake.  At the end of it is a spillway for the lake’s dam. And right next to the spillway is a small dock.  I paused this morning, turned off my iPod and looked up into the big, inky sky.  Stars hung like tiny Christmas lights, twinkling and trying their hardest to illuminate the world around me. The lake was glass, reflecting the stars and the lights from the homes across the water. I took three deep breaths and began talking to the sky.  All my frustrations came out. And then my worries.  Soon a long list of wants poured out into the stillness, too. It was like I was asking Santa for a big, undeserved Christmas.  I paused, listened to the bugs and something splashing around in the water off in the distance.  And then looked up at the sky and asked for a sign.

I guess I was hoping for something like a Hollywood screenwriter would dream up.  A meteorite would be nice.  A fiery trail of light to let me know the good Lord was listening to my pleas and was going to provide all the answers for me.  I stared up at the sky waiting for that telltale streak of light.

Nothing happened.

Dejected, my shoulders slumped. How could my pleas not be answered right then and there?  I took another deep breath and looked up at the sky again. This time, I saw all the stars.  Venus and Saturn also jumped out at me. I could hear a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the trees behind me. A frog croaked and the bugs were still performing their pre-dawn symphony. It was at moment I realized I was surrounded by signs.  I was right smack dab in the middle of a miracle.  The power and majesty of life burned brighter than any shooting star ever could.

I just couldn’t see it because I wasn’t engaged.  Sometimes you have to meet the signs you are looking for halfway.

I hit the button on my running watch and started running back up the gravel road.  I finished my tried 3.10 miles with tired legs and a happy heart. I hadn’t found the signs I was looking for. I had found something even better.