The Gift

Originally posted by CBess Last night was cold. At least by my standards. The mercury hovered around the mid twenties but the road beckoned like a long lost lover. Fighting the urge to settle into my recliner (which has the gravitational pull of a small black hole) I laced up my running shoes and headed into the night. It was beautiful. Sadly I don't remember the many phases of the moon but let's just say it was almost full. Part of my run was in the Great Dismal Swamp as I posted about previously but unlike before I ran sans headlamp. The moon was all I needed. It was truly exhilarating. I have no idea what my heart rate was, how many calories I burned, my watt output or exactly how far I ran. I do know that I felt alive. Frigid night air burning my lungs, bitter cold nipping at my extremities, eyes watering and nose running; awesome stuff! I believe I was created by a loving God who gave me a body capable of great things and that he fully intended me to use this body so well designed and suited for seemingly endless exploits and adventures. I am pushing 50 and heredity is not on my side. There are numerous maladies, diseases and illnesses in my genetic blueprint. I think a healthy lifestyle is keeping me one step ahead of the inevitable but know that at some point I will likely succumb to the ravages of time and genetic predisposition. In the interim I plan to enjoy this body of mine and take full advantage of the precious gift I have been given.