Hearing God on The Treadmill.

From the Woods to the Treadmill – God has Something to Say

My stay at Pacem in Terris started like most others. After checking in to my hermitage around 1:30 pm, I decided to go for a walk. It was a sunny afternoon though chilly at approximately 10 degrees. The path through the snow led into the woods and then out to an open meadow where a simple cross stands in focused reminder of the price paid for our salvation. Kneeling down, I grabbed hold of the cross and lingered for awhile feeling it’s reality. Continuing on the path, I wound up down at the lake where a chair sat on the end of the dock. I knew the Lord was inviting me to set and rest awhile.

While I rested a muskrat, (I think that’s what it was,) came scurrying out of the bushes and across the ice. He had a very interesting gate where he would run a few steps and then seemed to slide on his stomach. He repeated this rhythm for a few minutes until he was out of sight. I wondered if this was normal or if something had happened to him. It seemed a picture of my spiritual life, running a few steps then sliding on my stomach. After noting God’s handiwork, (and humor,) in the creation around me, I got up and slowly made my way back to my hermitage.

Since I had not been able to go running for the last week due to Christmas obligations and the bad weather, I had decided to look for an opportunity to do that here. I have had a couple of other occasions where I took a run as part of my Pacem in Terris experience. Since I had signed up for dinner at 5:30, (I always like to meet the staff and other guests,) I thought there was just time to go for a run. They have excellent indoor equipment at the lodge because the son of the founder was a marathoner. I grabbed my stuff and headed over there. I felt I could squeeze in 5 miles and not be late for dinner.

I got on the treadmill and after about 4 miles I said to the Lord, "I know this is strange but is there anything you want to say to me here?" (As opposed to out in the woods or in my hermitage.) God responded by saying, “Yes there is. Have you really paid attention to the body I have given you and thanked me for it? Your eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, etc. are all my design and gifts to you.” So I took some time to thank him for my body. Then he said, “and what about your 5 senses?” So I thanked him for my senses, even the ones that are weakening a little now with age. Then he said, “and what about this 4 dimensional world you live in? I created you so you could live and function in this world. Your physical body was designed to live in this 4 dimensional world.”

Then God said to me, but you are more than your physical body and reality is more than the 4 dimensional world. Your prayers and our communication break through the limits of this world. I created you with a spirit that comes alive through the work of my Holy Spirit based on the gift of Christ. In addition, when you do acts of true agape love, (sacrificial love,) you transcend this 4 dimensional world. They make no sense in the 4 dimensional world but they make sense in the spiritual world because I am Spirit and I am love.”

Well this dialogue took place during the 5th mile in less than 10 minutes. I was running in the 4 dimensions but communicating in the spiritual dimension. I love coming to Pacem in Terris where I have heard from the Lord many times but this is the first time he spoke to me on the treadmill.