Graduation Day-in honor of Jim and D-daddy

Today Jim Freeman takes steps across a stage, steps that represent time and work. He will receive his Doctor of Ministry degree. He has worked hard and he has earned the title. There is excitement in this final step and in today's ceremony but there is also a bittersweet element. 

Jim's father passed away a year ago and his presence is missed, missed by all of us. He was a source of joy and laughter. He was a calm in the midst of storms. He was fun. Always quick with a witty remark. David Freeman was a gentle man in the greatest sense of that word. He cared about people from the least to greatest; he loved his enemies even when his family held on to grudges for him. He worked tirelessly for issues of justice and peace. He loved his family. 

David got a Doctor of Ministry several years ago and we were all there cheering him on. Because of my understanding of the great cloud of witnesses I know he is here with us now too, especially with Jim today...And more than that I know that Jim is given the strength for today and everyday as he trips on into grace. 

In fact we all are given this same strength even when there are difficult days...especially when there are difficult days. 

So celebrate today Jim! Enjoy!! And know that you are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses who have run the race...and you are called to "say something about what you've seen!!"

Bon voyage, Ciao, see you soon!!

Bon Voyage. Vaya Con Dios. Fare thee well. Haste ye back. See you soon. Ciao. These are all ways to say good bye without making it a final goodbye but rather an open-ended and loving sending. More of a "so long, I'll see you later!" I have heard so many of these in the past couple of weeks. Thank you. 

I am immensely blessed to have so many of you who have helped me to prepare for this walk...through your encouragement, your prayers, good thoughts, worries (concern), gifts, resources, advice, planning, and so much more. 

As I prepare to take my first steps I feel as if I'm taking a large company with me--that I am not traveling the miles alone but tripping into grace with all of you...And that is quite comforting. ;) 

Sense of Adventure (for my Mom)

My mom loves to travel. Several years ago I got to accompany her to New York City. It was her first trip to the city. She was 85 years old. We visited family, saw great sights, rode a double decker bus in the rain, walked and walked, and had a great time. My mom loves to travel. She loves adventure. 

Last week while visiting my parents I showed them my equipment for my trip to Spain. I unpacked my backpack piece by piece. I unrolled my sleeping bag and set out my pillow. I showed them my small clothes bag and how tightly compressed it gets to fit all my clothes in it. I showed them my passport and my Camino passport. I re-packed it all. And put my backpack on my back. I was glad to get the practice and to show them that part of my trip. 

My father took his usual picture of me that he takes every time I go home and my mom took one this time too. The whole time I was packing and re-packing my mom just kept saying "I'm so excited for you. I wish I could go with you." 

As I was walking out of the room I heard my mom say to my daddy , "she gets her sense of adventure from me!" She is right!! ;) and that makes me happy!

I hope as I age I always have her sense of adventure and forever am able to trip into grace...

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)