a little more work to do

For several months I have been walking...walking miles, walking hills, walking stairs, walking as I prepare to walk across part of Spain. I walk with my pack. I often walk with my pack along the river trail near my home, always with it fully loaded so I know what to expect.  I'm surprised I don't get more questions. I do get lots of interesting stares. 

This week when I came to see my parents I brought only the essentials in my pack much as if I were traveling the Camino. I realized this morning as I was trying to re-pack my gear and be ready to roll that there is more to preparing than just being able to walk 13-20 miles a day i.e.  getting the sleeping bag rolled up in the dark, dressed, and stuff put back just right. I have a little more work to do. ;)

And my moment of tripping into grace is that I have some time to work on those other areas. 

Grace Abounds

Well I didn't walk today but it was a travel day for me. As I make the countdown to my trip for Spain and my pilgrimage I traveled today to Oklahoma to see my parents. The wind gusts were about 40 mph as I drove (it's no wonder that the title song for the musical Oklahoma by Rodgers and Hammerstein includes two references to wind in the first verse: 

Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain
Where the wav-in wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain).

I was glad I was in my car and not on my bicycle today which is another way I enjoy traveling or tripping into grace. 

But tripping into grace I have today as friends and family checked on me, I saw spectacular views along the way, and was greeted with love and more love by my parents upon arrival. May I just say...

Grace abounds. 

Training--for the Joy

It takes preparation to run a race or to go on a long bike ride or even walk 500 miles across Spain. You need to train. I have a difficult time considering myself a runner. I’ve taken up running off and on throughout my life since I was a kid. But most seriously 4 years ago after my daughter, Lindsay and I attempted the Little Rock half marathon with no training and then the MacArthur Park 5k with no training. Not the smartest decisions.

I still have a difficult time when someone calls me a runner. I just don’t consider myself to be in this class of people. But I have learned some things about what it might take to be a runner and to run a race. I have learned that it’s better if you do some build up before you just go out and run (or ride/sit on a bike for 50 miles or walk the Camino).

I have had an injury since last October, most likely because I didn’t train well for a half marathon. Because of that I hadn’t run in a race from the middle of October until the first of May. I tried a couple of training runs—walk/runs; and walked and cycled but truth be told running really scared me. The fear of putting that kind of pressure and bounce on my Achilles tendon even when I thought it might be healed was beyond words. So for six months I have not been a runner.

On Friday night, because my husband’s favorite 5K was happening and my daughter really enjoys running together, I agreed to run. I was very nervous. Sure, I could’ve walked. But it seemed as good an opportunity to step out in faith and try to run.

I didn’t run the whole way but I did run. And while I was not trained up for the whole 5k it felt good to be back running. One of the most exciting parts for me was cheering others on as they passed me or I passed them. As I was running the last quarter of a mile I was able to encourage and run a woman almost to the finish she was struggling to finish. And then as Lindsay and I waited for Jim we were able to run him in and he got his first medal.

I missed running­­––the joy of the race for sure­­––but more than that the simple pleasure, daily grind, persistent discipline of preparing for it. Because when you spend the time preparing, the “race” is truly a joy.

Crossing the Finish Line

Four years ago Lindsay and I participated in our first MacArthur Park run. We have been running ever since. We have run or walked in 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and one marathon. We have met friends along the way. We have been inspired by people's stories of perseverance and determination. We have been told that we have inspired others to run or at least get out and walk. 

Tonight Lindsay and Jim and I will participate again in this run. One of us all out running. One of us walking. And one of us run/walking. 

Several of my friends are participating in the Warrior Dash tomorrow. And some others are participating in the Tour de Toad (5K and/or bike ride). I'm sure there are other rides and races tomorrow that I don't know about. And I'm sure there are all kinds of emotions that people have about their ride or race--joy, fear, anxiety, relief, something else. I wish you the best in whatever upcoming challenge that you have.

I was injured last fall in a run and have missed running. I have continued to cycle and walk. Tonight will be the first time that I have been in an organized race since Soaring Wings and my injury. I'm a bit nervous. But am glad for the challenge and the opportunity to be back in the race whichever way I end up crossing the finish line...walking or running. 

...but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead... (Phil. 3:13)

Another's Shoes-Nepal/Baltimore

Walking in another's shoes helps to broaden one's perspective.  Hold your judgement until you have made that journey. You never know how you may see the world differently...you may even look at your own life in a new way. And learn to love your neighbor. 

Speed Bumps of Grace

I know I'm not alone in this experience of starting off in one direction and find yourself heading in several different directions. It's not unusual especially in our fast-paced world. But I wonder have you ever been stopped short when the following has happened? I was WALKING  today and stumbled on a speed bump. I didn't fall. There was no injury. Just a tripping of sorts. I did the typical looking around to see if anyone saw me (no one did) and then I kept walking. 

But as I walked I got to thinking...that speed bump was a great reminder to slow down, watch where I was going certainty but more than that to look for others who might be harried or hurting...slow down because in my rush I might just miss the  grace that is there for me and the grace that is there for others...the grace that others have to offer me and the grace that I can share...slow down...for you will find grace even tripping over the speed bumps....

Peace! My God. #baltimore

Today, in light of unrest in Baltimore and injustice other places I share a hymn written by a Lutheran minister. Though the walk of some is threatening, stalking, and others is fleeing---the prayer is for God's mercy and peace to be brought/carried into the lives of all people. 

Author: Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr	(1995)

"This text was a response to several events: ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, revelations of child abuse, the general state of the world. For all such horrors, the only hope is the peace God offers. The tune name means 'Peace, my God.'"

1 Where armies scourge the countryside,
and people flee in fear,
where sirens scream through flaming nights,
and death is ever near:

Refrain
O God of mercy, hear our prayer:
bring peace to earth again!

2 Where anger festers in the heart,
and strikes with cruel hand;
where violence stalks the troubled streets, 
and terror haunts the land: 

O God of mercy, hear our prayer:
bring peace to earth again!

3 Where homes are torn by bitter strife,
and love dissolves in blame;
where walls you meant for shelt'ring care
hide deeds of hurt and shame: 

O God of mercy, hear our prayer:
bring peace to earth again!

Text: Herman G. Stuempfle Jr., b. 1923