roses and thorns

Tonight at dinner (as we do on many nights around the table), we each shared our roses and thorns from the day.  When Dad shared his rose, I was surprised to hear that his rose was my run with him this morning.

I am praying for you that you would be a part of lots of people's roses.  May your focus others grow and may your love bring light to a dark world....

I know you were my rose the other night when you came in the kitchen and cooked an egg for me when I had not had time to have dinner. And you were part of my rose in seeing the note you wrote to Anna at her dance performance. I love you....

practical

Today, I decided to bike to both of my teacher observations (downtown and over in Magnolia) and then bike to campus for the day to work. With Seattle traffic, I figured it was going to be the best use of time AND I'd also get some exercise in.  That means not being stressed in the car and I also get my heart rate up as I crank up hills a bit on the way. Win-win! It was the practical thing in my mind to do today.

Speaking of practical.... I ran across these 13 things this parent wanted her son to know as he was getting ready to turn 13.  Good stuff below:

My son is all grown up, yet stuck in this weird phase between being a little boy and beginning a new phase as a teen. He no longer orders from the kids’ menu, counts as an adult at amusement parks, and I shop for him in the men’s section. But he is still developing and maturing; he still hasn’t quite become a young man, but is quickly getting there.

As my son celebrates his 13th birthday at the end of the month, here are 13 things I want him to know:

1. Yes, parents don’t know everything.

But they know more than you can imagine.

2. It’s okay to not fit in.

Don’t try to be somebody you’re not because you’ll only feel worse.

3. Whatever arguments your parents might have, they have nothing to do with you.

There is nothing you can do to prevent or solve disagreements between adults.

4. Try your best.

Always. It will give you peace of mind.

5. Mistakes don’t define you …

… even if they do define a certain moment in your life.

6. Feeling angry, sad, or powerless at times is okay.

Don’t fight those feelings, but rather find a way to get to a better place.

7. Nobody will remember in twenty years whether you were first pick or last choice to be on a team.

So don’t sweat it.

8. Needing is different from wanting.

Learn the difference and don’t forget it.

9. Don’t be scared of failure.

All setbacks have the potential to become something positive, even if they hurt.

10. Hang in there when life gets dark.

It really is darkest before the dawn.

11. I will always be at arm’s length in case you need me.

Even when you want to be alone, and especially when you don’t realize you need me.

12. Choose your friends wisely.

The best ones will bring you so much joy. The worst will only bring you down, and keep in mind that you can’t rescue others from the bad choices they make.

13. I love you.

No matter what you do. No matter what you say. I might not always agree with you and we even might not like each other all the time, but I will always love you for being you.

training plans

I am so glad that Elizabeth worked on our training plan so that I can look on the calendar each day and know what I am supposed to do each day for a workout.  Tuesdays are generally hills or speed workouts. Sundays are always a long run.  Saturdays have the option to cross train.  Some days just have easy mileage built in. The routine is good along with the variety built in.

There's something about routine that can be really helpful. There's something about discipline that actually brings freedom. 

Richard Foster gives these words in his book Freedom of Simplicity: “Start right where you are, in the midst of all the tasks that press in upon you. Do not wait for some future time when you will have more time or be more perfect in knowledge.” 

One more quote from Richard Foster from a book he wrote called Celebration of Discipliine: “A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is provide the right conditions for the growing of grain. He cultivates the ground, he plants the seed, he waters the plants, and then the natural forces of the earth take over and up comes the grain...This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines - they are a way of sowing to the Spirit... By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.” 

My prayer for you today is that you would find freedom in discipline (whether in soccer or in school or in your faith) and that you would trust God to fill you with His grace through the process.

Take my hand

This morning for our Easter run, Elizabeth and I clocked 15 1/2 miles. I do not think I would have felt this good doing this a few weeks ago so that lets me know that I think I'm getting a little stronger each day.  YAY!

During parts of the run, my hands were really cold because of wind and rain. For about 20 minutes, I could not focus on much else than thinking about the hot shower waiting for me back at home.  Thankfully, the wind died down and I was able to regain some feeling in my hands by the end of the run.

I have a simple prayer for you today, Taylor. When circumstances are difficult or uncomfortable and when it's hard to focus on anything but the problem, may God give you the grace to look to Him for strength and ask for him to take you by the hand.

Here's the song that was mentioned in the sermon this morning that puts it better than I can. (This song was also mentioned by Martin Luther King, Jr. to his best friend right after he was shot. Pretty powerful....)

"Precious Lord, take my hand, 
lead me on, let me stand. 
I am tired. I am weak, I am worn; 
Through the storm, through the night, 
lead me on to the light: 
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home." 

Happy Easter! 

mix it up

It was fun to mix it up today- biking to SPU, running at the top of Queen Anne and then biking back....

such a great view anytime but especially on a run 

an egg hunt on campus this morning :) 

My prayer for you is that when you get stuck in the same patterns and grooves (in your mind or in your life in general) that you would find ways to mix it up and find new perspective and hope. 

The view is worth it. 

easy

Today I had an easy workout to do and was thankful for being able to squeeze a quick run in through campus to see the cherry blossoms in all their glory once again this morning.

As I was running, I was mulling over a few things, 

and as my head was clearing, a song came to mind from a band Jason and I knew in college: 

"It's easy to criticize. 

It's easy to hate. 

It's easy to let it go

until it's too late

It's easy to justify

it's easy to wait

it's easy to humanize

and resign to your fate. 

The hardest thing is love

The hardest thing is love. " 

It was a short and easy run that was over in just under half an hour, 

but it was a gift to have these words swirling around in my head and heart during this time. 

My prayer for you is that you would not go the easy path, but that you would allow God to work through you to do the hard work of love especially when you don't feel like it. 

The hardest thing is love. 

The greatest thing is love. 

The only thing is love. 

going the second mile

Today, I ran to Greek Lake and then met up with a friend there.  We walked a lap around the lake together and then she asked if I had time for another loop. I looked at my watch and realized it would work so we went another time around. Our conversation was rich and I was grateful for the chance to go the extra mile with her.

I read this about the meaning of going the second mile and have copied it below:

Jesus said, "And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:41). Roman soldiers could force citizens of Israel or any foreigner to carry their backpacks for a mile. Here is some important background information concerning this practice: 

Cyrus the Great, the king of Persia, invented the postal system to carry letters and documents from one place to another. To make his system work, any courier could force anyone to carry the mail for one mile, but only one mile. The Romans adopted this system for their military to keep their soldiers from getting worn out from carrying heavy backpacks, which weighed about 66 pounds. 

Roman soldiers could compel any Jew to carry his backpack for one mile. Roman roads had mile markers similar to the mile markers we have today on Interstate highways, so it was easy to know where each mile started and ended. If someone refused to do it, he would be flogged. 

The Jews hated the Romans because they were Gentile foreigners running their country and they had to pay taxes to Caesar. Carrying a Roman soldier’s heavy backpacks for a mile added to their hatred. The distance was actually two miles because he had to carry it one mile to wherever the soldier was going, and then he had to walk back a mile to get where he was previously. 

When a Roman soldier told someone to carry his pack, the Jew would have to drop everything he was doing and go out of his way to obey his order. I’m sure every Roman soldier felt resentment and heard complaining by the person carrying the pack. 

Now Jesus says, “Not only do I want you to carry it one mile, I want you to carry it an extra mile.” This was actually four miles (2 miles there and 2 miles back). We don’t carry Roman backpacks anymore, but the principle applies to every area of our lives today—in our relationships, at home, at school, at our jobs—Christ calls us to go the extra mile going above and beyond what is asked of us.

A Roman soldier says to a Christian, “Hey you, carry my pack.” The Christian says, “Yes sir!” And then he joyfully starts walking along with the soldier. After one mile the soldier says, “Okay, you can put it down now.” The believer says, “I would really like to carry it another mile for you.” The shocked soldier asks, “Why would you do that?” The Christian explains, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and He told us to do this for you.” The soldier asks, “Who is this Jesus that you follow?” 

By carrying the pack an extra mile, it not only showed him the love of God but opened up an opportunity to tell him about Jesus. There’s no telling how many soldiers became Christians during that second mile. I’m sure we would see a lot more people become Christians if we would just go “the extra mile” for them.  

I am praying that you would be one who does not just do the bare minimum but becomes one who goes the extra mile above and beyond what is asked to love others well.