Renewed Passions

I ran in a 5-Person Marathon Relay on Sunday, then watched a powerful documentary (Beyond the Gates of Splendor) last night.

I had been planning on running in the Fort Worth Cowtown Marathon in February of 2007, but am struggling to make time for training for it. I had all but decided to put it off for a year until I ran the first leg (6 miles) of the Dallas White Rock Marathon Relay. I truly envied those that were able to keep running when I had to stop. I want so badly to run another marathon and, hopefully, the Boston Marathon. Sometimes, especially when I have not run in an actual race in a while, I forget why I run. Yes, it's theraputic. But that's not why. I run because I enjoy the race. Standing at the starting line with butterflies in my stomach, hearing encouragement from complete strangers standing out on their front lawn to watch the multitude of runners go by, bands playing songs on street corners, and, of course, having hundreds of people cheer as you near and pass through the finish line. There's truly nothing like it.

(Btw, I ran my 6 miles in 46 minutes, 32 seconds. Averaged 7:45 per mile, my fastest mile being the 6th mile at 7:22)



"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
- John 15:13

I read this the summer after I graduated high school and it had a major impact on me. I'm currently re-reading it, mostly because I watched the movie version of it last night. It's incredible. The forgiveness displayed by the Saint family is incredible. To imagine calling the man that killed my dad's dad "grandfather" is beyond my understanding, yet that is what Steve Saint's children do. And to try to put myself in the place of the 5 missionaries who gave up their lives for a people they did not know. They had a gun, but refused to use it because they (the missionaries) were ready for heaven, while the indians were not. Such abandon and sacrifice.

A movie well worth your time and money, as is the book. Also check out Steven Curtis Chapman's Declaration CD which was written mostly out of inspiration from this story.

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