What If We Tried It?
Years ago, I had the good fortune to run two marathons with Lisa Stieve. You may be surprised to know this about us—we are talkers. So imagine the hours of training runs, and then race day itself: five long hours (because we’re slow) to cover 26.2 miles. We talked about everything, but mostly about our hopes and dreams.
This isn’t us. I have a thousand pictures of us running but couldn’t find any! But this is the vibe.
Hers was to sing. Mine was to write.
As we trotted down the Betsie Valley Trail or circled the high school track, we laid a foundation for those dreams to grow. There was something about the energy of it—the movement, the repetition, the effort. Our bodies were working, our mouths were moving, and our dreams were being spoken out loud again and again. This isn’t a theology I learned or a verse I memorized, but I do believe that putting energy into our dreams helped make them real. And I’ll admit—I’m proud of that (and yes, I will still mention that I ran a marathon whenever possible).
And here’s the remarkable part: those dreams were achieved.
Lisa began singing.
And I published a book.
Looking back, though, I also see a missed opportunity.
What if we had been prayerful during those miles? What if we had invited God into that same energy—into the movement, the speaking, the effort? What if we had lifted those dreams up intentionally, prayed them out loud, written them down, or offered them to God while our feet kept moving?
Scripture often describes prayer and meditation not as sitting still, but as something carried through the day—spoken, remembered, and practiced “day and night” as we go about our lives.
Maybe the invitation is this: take the hopes and dreams we already carry and put some energy behind them. Speak them. Write them. Pray them while moving, while driving, while walking through the day. Prayer doesn’t require a marathon—or even a walk. But what if we tried it? Faith doesn’t have to be passive. God meets us in the effort, the repetition, and the willingness to bring Him along.
Not faster. Not farther. Just more intentionally—and more fully—with God.
Thank you for reading.
