A reflective prayer in Fiji

During the first week of April I writhed in physical pain, mental anguish and torment. Physical pain emanated from a mystery injury to my lower back, which led to said emotional distress. Mostly my laments related to the future plans. I had just secured a new teaching position, an ideal one at that. Shannan and I had a trip planned to visit Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in the summer, and finally I had arranged to engage in religious studies research at GSU. As the aching in my back grew worse and continued over time I feared our grand plans lost. Even more disturbing I envisioned a lifetime off back problems would become the mosaic of my life. This was not the ideal future we were diligently piecing together. 

God had mercy. Indeed, as mentioned previously, when the mysterious back throbbing arrived I immediately started a regime of stretches and carefully tended to the injured area. In a matter of days the intense pain dissipated. All that came crashing in on me during a run on the beach of Sigatoga, Fiji as I prayed. I was mindful that that very day, the travel and the running, had been in jeopardy. I am grateful for the little things in life, like running. Life would have gone on with a lingering injury. I am so thankful things worked out as they did. I still have no idea what caused the four days of excruciating lower back pain. I do know that with gratitude and great appreciate I remain committed to health, fitness, The Steak, and doing my very best in my new scholarly positions. Thanks be to God. Allah akbar

Pray. Run.

Tom