The Bigger Picture

So last Saturday, I tripped and fell while running, and injured my knee. Went in to see a Doc because it was so painful. I got a knee support thing magic, medication and some advice. “Do not run again until the knee has healed”, Doc said :(. As a runner, I know that it would be foolish to run on an injured knee. So I have not run all week. I have the Lewa race coming up in under a month, and I am afraid that I will lose my momentum as I wait for my knee to heal :(. I wake up each morning feeling my knee, and the pain’s still there. Never thought there’d be a day in my life when I’d be counting days to healing so I can run again LOL! Life changes, we change… Looking back, I now recall that I had made a split decision to change my route in my final 2kms.  After I fell, my first reaction of course was to wish I had stuck to the plan! I wouldn’t have fallen, I thought. Was asking God why I got an injury now that He knows I am so close to Lewa? Why didn’t He protect me? And in it all, I knew all things work together for good. So even though I couldn’t see why [at the time], I praised God for it could have been worse.

Now, I have met friends along the way that have helped me become a better runner, and I am thankful for them. For example, one of my friends gave me loads of running magazines that I am reading and learning so much from. After the fall, another recommended a sports’ injury physiotherapist that I went to see. Turns out that because I have been running for so long without a break, and without massages, I had gained loads of lactic acid buildup within my muscles.  They [muscles] were stretched and tight. This, among other potential problems led me to feel heavy when running, I learnt. And I thought the heavy feeling was because I was ‘carrying’ one too many pounds lol! I found out that sooner or later, I would have had an injury from the tight muscles, which could have been worse than the injury from the fall! What? So this knee injury was a blessing after all! Also, in the week that I have not been running I have read and googled loads of info about injury and moving forward. I have learnt so much about running, avoiding injury etc. that I probably would not have learnt had I not gotten injured. I have acquired a wealth of info from reading, the Doc and the physiotherapist! I am grateful for the fall, because I have gained so much more, which will make me a better runner going forward. Thank you, Lord! And so I continue to wait for the physiotherapist to give me an all clear to run…

And all this reminds me that when things are not working like they ought, instead of complaining I should step back and take a deeper look. And seek wisdom from the Lord. There just may be a bigger picture and preparation that all fits in. If I don’t see it, I should keep the faith because sooner or later, the bigger picture will reveal itself. Thank you Lord for the lesson.

~And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.