{"id":2036,"date":"2016-11-03T20:11:44","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T20:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=2036"},"modified":"2016-11-03T20:11:53","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T20:11:53","slug":"the-longest-mile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=2036","title":{"rendered":"The Longest Mile"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"images-3\"<\/a>I began running October 16, 1976.<\/p>\n

This is a blog my husband wrote this last month:<\/p>\n

I was reminded this morning as I awoke, that as of October 16, 2016, I have run most days for the last forty years. Despite the \u201chard to start\u201d nature of my memory on occasion, I can clearly recall that first run of exactly one mile in my twenty fourth year. It would have been inconceivable to me to imagine at the time that I would be glancing in my rearview mirror at age sixty four, separated from that first jog by sixty or seventy thousand miles. I was just as antsy to take off this morning as I was at the time, although my odometer is broken and I have a governor which limits my speed.<\/p>\n

I feel such a sense of gratitude about this specific indulgence that God has permitted me all these years. Nothing transports me like running does. The best part: I hear voices and there is no one there. Or no one that has appeared to me yet. I am still hopeful about that one.<\/p>\n

Yet the LORD says, \u201cDuring the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.
\nDeuteronomy 29:5<\/p>\n

God has been so faithful to me and mine.<\/p>\n

Somewhere along the way, a problem developed however. Someone slipped an Energizer battery in my wilderness journey; it just keeps grinding on endlessly. I am hopeful my forty first year of running signals our escape from sandy vistas and dry places. I know there are giants in our new digs, but Holly and I are both ready for the change of scenery and besides; we have seen what happens to Goliath.<\/p>\n

I would like to believe we are being released for good behavior but I know that, at least in terms of me, that\u2019s not the case. It\u2019s probably just prison overcrowding. I do sense change is blowing in, not only for us but for everyone. A lot of older prisoners are about to be paroled.<\/p>\n

Though it cost you all you have-get understanding.
\nProverbs 4:17<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I began running October 16, 1976. This is a blog my husband wrote this last month: I was reminded this morning as I awoke, that as of October 16, 2016, I have run most days for the last forty years. Despite the \u201chard to start\u201d nature of my memory on occasion, I can clearly recall […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":254,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=254","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":0},"title":"Where Did the Time Go?","author":"hollysmith","date":"June 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Where did the time go? This week I met with a girl who thanked me for connecting her to a group that was blessing her. Without praying about it, I wondered aloud if I could sit in and be a part too. The group would consist of gifted, enthusiastic women,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Persevering Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Persevering Faith","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/running-up-at-mtn2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2366,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=2366","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":1},"title":"Listening for God","author":"hollysmith","date":"July 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Is. 57:11 Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? (NIV) Is. 57:11 Did you forget about me and become unfaithful because you were more afraid of someone else? Have I been silent so long that you no longer fear me? (Contemporary English\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"sunset-field-poppy-sun-priroda","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sunset-field-poppy-sun-priroda-300x198.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2533,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=2533","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":2},"title":"6-23-19 Persevere","author":"hollysmith","date":"June 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Gal. 5:7-8 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. In my devotional this morning it said Peter\u2019s eyesight was actually a hindrance to him when he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"1fd804f873e42ab4b8555eb944a7ff05","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/1fd804f873e42ab4b8555eb944a7ff05-230x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1684,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=1684","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":3},"title":"Blind Faith","author":"hollysmith","date":"November 15, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cNow faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.\u201d Hebrews 11:1 I dreamed that an enemy had hijacked the car I was in but somehow I wrestled the steering wheel from him. When I got control of the car back, the windshield\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"mtn road","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/mtn-road-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":131,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=131","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":4},"title":"A Faithful Friend","author":"admin","date":"March 9, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Judy was a faithful friend. She reminded me of someone like Mary that pondered and treasured up things in her heart as well as believed what the Lord had said would be accomplished. Even in the thick of the battle for her life this last week, when the Is. 53:5\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Dedications to Special Friends Lost"","block_context":{"text":"Dedications to Special Friends Lost","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=14"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/redo_carol-judy-holly.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1704,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=1704","url_meta":{"origin":2036,"position":5},"title":"Restoration","author":"hollysmith","date":"January 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I was having an early morning discussion with my husband about this verse: \u201cI have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him. \u201c (Is. 57:18) My husband asked, \u201cWhat were his ways? What sin had he committed? 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