Running in our gene pool

Here is good news for all you runners. We, the human race, are uniquely created to run and run long distances. Over 425,000 runners completed a marathon this past year which is up 20% this past decade. Just thought you would want to know! Anyone interested in doing Louisville or Cleveland next year? Let me know.

Patience

While waiting for my daughter to wrap up a rehearsal for ballet, I am reminded again how I don’t mind waiting. It is part patience and part the intovert in me that enjoys hanging out by myself. It also reminds me that this sort of space in my life is necessary for spiritual growth. Down times can lead to the most fruitful seasons in life. Hear this quote from Dallas Willard:

“A successful performance @ a moment of crisis rests…upon the depths of a self wisely & rigorously prepared…” Dallas Willard

Melisa ready for school

Friedman NYTimes Op-Ed

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/opinion/21friedman.html

Interesting piece by Friedman about the new untouchables which is not a negative term. Maybe this will jumpstart a new post for me!

Dayton, Ohio Bound

Heading to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio to run in the Air Force Marathon on Saturday. I never thought I would enjoy such long runs, but it has been one of the most exhilerating things I have done. This will be, hopefully, the third one I complete and they have all had their challenges. When we begin I am full of self-doubt about training, hydration, nourishment, and toughness to make the day. But I have found the experience to be beneficial in so many area of my life. Self-discipline. Time management. Healthy lifestyle. And it has brought me closer to God. It seems that the more I push myself physically the greater awareness I have with the Creator who allows me to do such things. I am definitely thankful for the ability and the great friends who help me along this journey. I am thankful for a family who puts up with Saturday morning runs and Saturday afternoon naps. And I am grateful for the challenge. Whether I make it tomorrow or not, I am a more complete person because of having tried. Will post more after we finish!

August 22nd!!

Since it has been almost a month without a post, I think it appropriate to post about procrastination! Actually, if there is nothing burning within me I simply don’t post. I have to admit that these seasons of dryness are particularly frustrating. But I also know that they normally precede seasons of abundance. How I wish our lives were a linear progression! Instead they are a scattergram which hopefully slopes upward over the long haul.

When times of dryness or regression come, what do you do? I normally find some comfort in plodding along knowing that these are seasons and not lifetime experiences. I have found that trying extra hard simply puts too much pressure on me and leads to more frustration. However, doing nothing is not an option either.

One thing about dry seasons in life, whether they be spiritually or as with me in my writing, is that it makes the rainy season more sweet. And for that I am thankful…when it finally comes (right rain drenched Texas readers?)

More pondering words

Two principles for posterity

I shared at a Town Hall-like meeting this week about our need to explore a second service and move forward.  In addition, there were two statements that I made in order to guide us moving forward.  I wanted to capture them in this space so as to develop them a bit more fully.

We will NOT sacrifice DEEP on the altar of WIDE.

We will NOT sacrifice GROWTH on the altar of COMFORT

Much more later.

More words to ponder

Breakfast Can Wait. E-mail comes first!

NY Times Article

Guilty, guilty.  The NY Times should have called the house and interviewed us for this piece.  Here is my morning routine (Open my eyes, turn off the alarm, check email on my way to brush my teeth before working out!)  We do have a “no TV, cellphone, laptop” rule during all meals.

Acknowledging the problem is the first step…right?