Hopeful ran long trails and over mountains for many years. From this activity he reaped much that was worthwhile. Physically through a number of cardiovascular, immune and other health benefits. Also the discipline gave him a whole body experience of the great outdoors and helped him mentally and spiritually. It was also just plain good fun though he found that many people had a glazed look at this assertion. Not many understand how pushing yourself to physical extremes can be enjoyable.

Charles Dunnig’s book ‘The Power of Habit’  talks of certain practices as ‘keystone’ habits. Endurance running is a keystone habit. This means that, if pursued with determination, the practice of long distance running will spill over or ‘cascade’ into a variety of other good habits. Such things as better food and nutritional choices. Like cutting consumption of refined sugar and complex carbohydrates. Hopeful did know of one athlete who was fastest woman in a 100 mile (160 km) race. Her diet was 17 packets of crisps during the race and several whiskies the night before. However the exception does not prove a rule. Mere mortals do perform better on good nutrition!

Good sleep habits are also inculcated as training hard means you are on the edge of fatigue. Proper rest and recovery need good sleep routines. Fitness and long term health should go together but don’t always. Some people can run 3 hour marathons. Only a very fit person can do this. In youth you can maybe get away with it by also eating whatever you like. Yet it may not be the best thing for your long-term health. However neglecting what things you eat and ignoring the need for proper rest as you get older is unlikely to keep you fit. Hopeful can testify to the truth of this. 

Long distance running may be a worthwhile practice. For others it may be some other sport or hobby they are passionate about which also helps in other areas of their lives. However exercise is only a part and can never be more than a part of life. Sickness or ill health can befall anyone, regardless of their striving for a healthy lifestyle or devotion to helpful pursuits. 

Recently Hopeful experienced the need for a hospital operation under general anaesthetic. A first for him. Here in the UK we have the National Health Service (NHS). As the largest employer in Europe it is paid for through the tax system. It has its detractors and is often a political football. However Hopeful speaks here not as a politician, economist or healthcare professional but as a patient. Hopeful personally experienced professionalism, kindness and great team work. A powerful and assuring mixture of attributes that perfectly met his needs at a time of vulnerability. Having lived in countries where access to basic healthcare barely exists Hopeful was deeply moved at this blessing of receiving highly skilled care. 

Will Hopeful get back to running? He certainly hopes to. Armed, hopefully, with a new knowledge and appreciation of how to live with frailty and weakness. As Hopeful has blogged in the past he experiences running spiritually as a metaphor for life. It points him to bigger, more expansive and meaningful truths. Trusting in Jesus is the ultimate foundational ‘keystone’ habit that infuses every area of life with his goodness. Health, fitness and good habits will all one day pass. For those who trust a new reality emerges like the rising sun even as the body and spirit fades.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

Revelation 21 verse 4

*** https://elisabethgrantart.com/

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