Stop Running!

One morning recently, I went out to get breakfast, have my quiet time, and then do some writing. After I finished eating, I got up to get a refill on coffee when a young woman and her two young children entered the restaurant. One of the boys, as soon as he came in the door, started running. He’d only made a couple of strides before his mom called out, “Stop running!”  The youngster, however, kept on going, oblivious to anyone or anything in his path. Fortunately, the little boy did stop a few moments later with no damage done.

Now, I recognize there are times when I am supposed to “run” – to be active, energetic, making progress towards a worthwhile goal. On more than one occasion, New Testament letter writer Paul spoke about this:

So I run with purpose in every step

– 1 Corinthians 9:26a (New Living Translation)

I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain

– Philippians 2:16b (New Living Translation)

And the writer of Hebrews provided this familiar admonition:

let us run with endurance the race God has set before us

– Hebrews 12:1b (New Living Translation)

I don’t believe these verses mean I must always be working hard, making progress, moving forward at a double-time pace. That’s because the Bible also indicates there are times when it is all right to “stop running:”

God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy,
because it was the day when he rested
from all his work of creation

– Genesis 2:3 (New Living Translation)

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him

– Psalm 37:7a (New King James Version)

Be still, and know that I am God!

– Psalm 46:10a (New Living Translation)

Even Jesus was cognizant of the importance of not going at full speed 100% of the time. He told his disciples:

“Come with me by yourselves
to a quiet place and get some rest.”

– Mark 6:31b (NIV)

In nature photography, I cannot do what I do while going 60 miles per hour in a car or even while walking 4 miles an hour on a trail. I need to slow down and stop. The photographs I shoot are almost never the result of “Point and Shoot.” I need to set down my tripod, take off my backpack, look around, and consider what I should do. As I’ve gotten older – I wish I could say wiser, but I mostly think it’s older – I have found that this approach to nature photography also provides the opportunity for me to appreciate my surroundings and realize how blessed I am to be at that spot at that moment.

Those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

– Isaiah 40:31 (New King James Version)