I went away with some friends this weekend, and it was a wonderful time of eating and relaxing and enjoying the company of faithful women. But sometimes, when I find myself surrounded by people, I just need to get out. I love spending time with people; but I also love having some time to enjoy peace and quiet, and a house with six girls isn\u2019t the best place for that. So I did what I usually do when I need to get away\u2014I went for a run.<\/p>\n
At first it was tough to get going. It was 17 degrees outside\u2014before wind chill\u2014but it was a stunning, cloudless Sunday morning, and I knew that once I got moving I would warm up and be glad I was out. I turned right out of the driveway without having the slightest clue where I was going. I didn\u2019t know this town at all, and I had no idea where I would end up.<\/p>\n
This sense of exploration is actually one of my favorite things about running in a new place. Sometimes I end up completely turned around. (Once, in London, I began to seriously worry I would ever find my way home again.) But for the most part, I love the adventure of trying to find interesting new places.<\/p>\n
I ran through a quaint little downtown area, past a pond covered with birds. The road turned and then I came to 4-way stop. I looked left and right, then straight ahead. I could go any way I wanted, and each of my choices looked equally appealing. I jogged in place and considered my options, then turned left. There was no real logic involved in my decision, I just liked the look of the trees on that street.<\/p>\n
It was only a few minutes later that I came across a small parking lot, and, curious, I crossed it and walked toward the sand dune at the other end. As I got closer, I felt my heart pounding. It couldn\u2019t be\u2014but then I crested the sand dune and saw that it was indeed a sandy stretch of beach. The waves were pounding against the fine white sand, and the sun was glinting off the deep blue water. There was no one else in sight; not even another set of footprints. I sucked in my breath and headed down toward the ocean\u2019s edge, where the sand is packed harder, and started to run along the shore.<\/p>\n
It was still and peaceful and holy. Just being there, I felt renewed. All I could think was that I had found this place by accident. Had I turned a different direction, made a random decision, I never would have found this. And yet, as my feet sunk into the soft sand, I knew that I hadn\u2019t been brought here by chance. An empty beach in January was not what I expected to find, but it turns out it was exactly what I needed, and as I turned around and headed back toward the house, I remembered to thank the one who is always directing my steps.<\/p>\n