No more running.

Picture yourself. You're five years old, clad in a dirty old dress and tennis shoes caked with mud. You spend all day running through your yard, basking in the sunlight and rolling in the dirt.You smell like grass, sweat and dirt. You've been playing with bugs and building dirt mounds for hours. Your hair is flying in every direction possible. You're a mess. A stinky, dirty, filthy mess.

While you're running through the yard, it starts to get dark. You're aware that soon, he'll be home. You're momma has been inside for hours making sure supper would be ready in time. Your heart skips a beat. As you turn the corner behind the tree, you hear his truck. It's loud roar startles you, but brings you comfort. As he gets out of the truck, you run. No, you don't run to jump in his arms.. you run away. As fast as possible. You want him to chase you. Even though you've been running all day, you want him to have to work to catch you. So, you run. What does he do? He chases, of course.

You're dirty, smelly & downright icky. You have been rolling in muck for hours.. remember? He still chases. You run fast.. He runs faster. You take all kinds of routes. You run behind trees, He's keeping up. You run in zigzag patterns, He's faster still. Finally, He catches you. He picks you up and you squeal in delight. Your Daddy caught you. Without hesitation, He lifts you up and kisses your forehead. He holds you in His arms.. dirty, messy, you. He is just so happy He caught you.

You have a Father. A loving, beautiful, tender Father. He longs to hold you in His arms. He wants you to slow down so He can catch you. You're running as hard as you can.. but He can run faster. Stop running in patterns, hiding behind things and trying to take your own route. He can catch you. Let Him.

Psalm 139:7-10

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
      to be out of your sight?
   If I climb to the sky, you're there!
      If I go underground, you're there!
   If I flew on morning's wings
      to the far western horizon,
   You'd find me in a minute—
      you're already there waiting!
   Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
      At night I'm immersed in the light!"
   It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
      night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.