The Tao of Distance Running - #81 (Final Verse)

The Tao nourishes by not forcing.

                                                              *

~

We run in the grace of letting go. And now

surrendered to the infinite -

Our stride goes on

forever.

We are the distance that we seek.

Run with ease. Even our hardest efforts contain the grace and joy of a pursuit without burden. We are given to motion as an expression of this gift and our stride reflects it. The mind often becomes troubled with projections outside the present moment. Thus our stride becomes burdened, heavy, graceless. This is not our natural stride - even on legs tired from the miles. To return to our natural state of grace is as simple as relinquishing force. Surrender. We need only to remember that our effort is a joy. We chose this effort - the path, hills, rocks and streams - as a purposeful revelation of spirit. There is no greater joy than this - the rediscovery of our truth in every step. Effort is the gift bestowed upon ourselves. In this perspective - there are no burdens.         

Peace,

Eric

*

Portion of the Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell