I am a pastor and I run. I have found these two practices to be highly compatible. There are many reasons I am discovering for being a running minister. I have noticed it has had a very positive impact on my emotional well-being. When I run, I burn away a lot of the pressures and stresses that come with spiritual caregiving. I am starting to view church problems like those hills on a course that require a different approach to conquer instead of be conquered. So for that reason, running allows me to deal with negative energy in a way that does not deplete me.
But I also see a positive product of my running in the release of creativity thinking. This happened yesterday when I went on a 5k run. Honestly, I had to force myself to suit up and go but I'm glad I hit the pavement in the end. Here's where an idea spawned and grew to the point that I am anxiously looking forward to an upcoming event: Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion. Would those thoughts have surfaced minus running? I really doubt it.
I didn't experience a personal best time on the 5k route yesterday but it was still well worth it. And I'm learning that running is much more than breaking a record or logging a number of miles. Just seeing some of these hidden benefits of running as a beginner makes me eager to discover what other surprising realizations await me as I start a new year of striving to become a healthier and, hopefully, more productive individual on this planet.
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