He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

- Colossians 1:17

This was my prayer yesterday on my lunchtime run. I started running last summer and found out that I really enjoy it. Course of events unfolded, and found myself struggling with knee pain over the winter months. Took some time off, had a few false returns, but finally am able to get a decent run in without knee pain if I am willing to pace myself and be patient with my body. Yesterday, I ran on a bike trail close to church. The sun was peeking out through the clouds after a morning full of rain. The ground was soaked, puddles covered the trail. The birds were picking at worms and singing their hearts out as the rain passed. The warmth of the sun was reflecting off the blacktop onto my legs. I opted to leave the earphones at home and run to the sound of nature, and to take the time to pray. I started conversing with God, but as my pace picked up, the verse above came to mind. Slowing I started to repeat this internally as I established a rhythm between my feet and breath. As the verse became automatic, the idea of everything holding together in Christ took over -- my knees being held together by His glue, the way that everything around me seemed to sing subtle praises to God, the way that the trees need the rain and sun to become the shocking green that they were...In all things, the amazing presence of God is visible. And only in His divine providence are they able to hold together.