Running and God

I was running a race this morning.  When I'm running my mind drifts.  I put my legs into autopilot and let them do their thing and I do my one.  Usually my mind drifts to God.  There are many places in the New Testament that compare running to the Christian walk.  Over the 15+ years I've been running, I've grown to appreciate these alliterations more and more.  Personally I think those that run marathons understand the statement "the patient endurance of the saints" much more than those who have never run a marathon, but I'm probably biased.  This morning however a new alliteration came to mind.

About 6 months ago I got something for training and racing that I'd always wanted, a Garmin Forerunner GPS watch.  This watch is pretty cool, it does all the things you'd expect from a GPS, but it also lets you set a pace and have a "virtual" training partner.  As you're running it tells you how far ahead/behind in time and in distance you are from your partner.  I've really grown to love and enjoy that feature.  Now back to the alliteration.

It came pretty early in the run, this normally doesn't happen. Just past mile 1 I got the thought, "running is like the Christian life..." This time the reason is, just like in running, the only person you are racing against is yourself and the only thing you're accountable is to your time.  Christianity is no different.  In my walk with God the only person I can compare myself to is me and the only one I'm accountable to in the end is God.

Not that I care...

A few years ago our gymnastics team did a friday night skit.  Each of the members had a part to play, it was a story of lives..the challenges we all go through.  Cindy picked out the parts and assigned them to everyone.  The part I got seemed kind of apropos.  It seems to be the story of my life.  It started out like this:

Not that I care...

I seem to tell myself this a lot, I try to show this face to people.  The easy going, nothing phases me, I can handle this face.  It provides a nice show, most people don't ever take a second look.  I think maybe they just want to see that everyone is happy.  I know I usually do.  I was taught to be confident, even in mistakes...I'm not sure I like that lesson now.  "Not that I care..." really is just a wall that I put up to protect me...from something I perceive might hurt me...who know's if it actually will.

My lines ended with this:

Why can't the ones you love, love you back?

I have come to the conclusion that this part is partially my fault...me not telling/showing them that I love them, but it also has to involve something outside of me.

Who I Am

The story is told of a doctor and his son. The doctor would always come home late at night, he would then lock himself in his study to try and de-stress from the day, locking himself away from his family, the ones who loved him most. His son would do all he could to try and break through the door and interact with his dad. He would stick his fingers under the door and wiggle them at his dad, he would draw pictures and slide them under the door, and he would write notes to his dad and slide them under the door. Sometimes these ploys worked, others not so much. The little boy later wrote a song a out this situation and called it "Underneath the door". This author is one of my favorite artists, Michael Card. 

I've learned over the years that even as an adult, I'm that little boy. To those who mean so much to me, I'll do whatever I can to get you to acknowledge me. I'll draw pictures, i'll write notes, I'll wave my hands in the air, I'll wave... I'll do anything that I can to show I'm here and that you're important to me. I am that little boy, I hope I always will be.

Amazing, psalm 63 from the message!!

Psalm 63:1, 4, 8, 11 MSG

God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. 
So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you. 
I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises! If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. Because you've always stood up for me, I'm free to run and play. I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post. 
Those who are out to get me are marked for doom, marked for death, bound for hell. They'll die violent deaths; jackals will tear them limb from limb. But the king is glad in God; his true friends spread the joy, While small-minded gossips are gagged for good.

Being a lady

To be called a lady is not a sign of frailty or devotion to frivolous hobbies. A lady is not a female who wears strings of pearls and hosts social gatherings. To be called a lady is the highest of compliments. Even as a woman seeks to compliment a man and calls him a gentleman, remember that "a lady is the female equivalent of a gentleman."

~From The Art and Power of being a Lady

I have introvert tendincies

Self-proclaimed Wise Man: Top Ten Myths About Introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Then Came the morning

A long night in a boat.  The wind the rain, and the ocean were no match for us.  Our group was made up of the best of Union Colleges IRR major and our mission was to brave a day and night on the ocean learning ocean survival.  The location was a half mile off the little island of little corn island in Nicaragua.  So what do I use to keep my head cool and covered?  Oh ya...a Tilley T3, the bow was my spot though pretty much the whole adventure.  Just one of many adventures I've had with it

The second picture is me with the only horse that people ride in Nicaragua, in the background you see the Rio WaWa, and on the other side of the river is Honduras.