Something to do, something to love, and something to hope for...

Please hang in there, guys. This is long!

I think my lungs may implode. It's been way too long since I've actually done any running, probably since this past summer. And honestly, I didn't plan to start again until next week. I've been wanting to run for quite a while, I just never got around to it. Too many things to do, places to go, people to see. But of course, those plans changed. So today I was way excited that I didn't have much to do. It took several hours and a bit of friendly motivation, but I finally got running at about quarter till eight. And it was scary! It was completely dark and in order to keep track of miles I have to run down by the creek, and I completely got scared running by the cemetery. Not cool! A car passed me really slowly and I about died of fright, and then a few minutes later it passed me again. And that's when I started getting creeped out.

So, to solve that problem, I started praying Hail Marys. Definitely like the single best thing ever! I immediately felt my breathing fall into its regular pattern, and I was in the most contemplative state ever. I think I got through about two decades before my asthma started bothering me, but praying while you run really helps to deal with the pain. I felt guilty for teasing someone about running earlier, so I thought I'd do penance by running an extra mile for him. And by the end, it was the coolest thing ever, because all I could get out was 'Pray for us, sinners'. How beautiful is that? I think that's going to be my mission from now on, to just offer all my running up for the world, which seems to be in such a pitiful state lately.

Hey, I've got a question for everyone who reads this. Do you think it's possible to date casually for Christ? I know a lot of you aren't Catholic, or religious at all, but I was talking with Michael earlier and it made me think. I've never really even considered 'casually' dating, let alone in a holy way. I think there's a big difference between secular dating and Catholic dating. Secular dating, as I've observed, naturally tends to be more casual and less focused on the prospect of marriage. But isn't that what dating is, in essence? Discovering what you find attractive, and finding what type of person complements you and encourages you in your daily walk... I guess it just doesn't make much sense to me. I'm way too commitment-seeking. Or way too Christ-seeking... whatever! Perhaps it's a dead-end thought process, but it leads me to my next point.

I think I definitely came to understand religious life today before Mass! I was leading a decade of the Rosary, and I just couldn't keep my eyes off of the crucifix at the front of the Church. With each word, I just kept pondering the fact that Mary was such a beautiful example of a holy woman. A faithful wife, a loving mother, and a suffering servant, she truly is so much greater than I could ever even attempt to be. And moreover, she was consecrated completely to God. She gave Him her whole heart. But it made me wonder- how can one give themselves completely to their spouse and completely to God? It doesn't really seem completely possible to me. If I want to truly give my heart to God, truly emanate His holy love, I must consecrate myself to Him, and Him alone. Hence, religious life! Now, this isn't to say that I've decided to follow that path, or even seriously consider it, but it was certainly an enlightening experience!

But of course, as Tyler has so eloquently stated, enlightenment is overrated. Right.