Every beginning has its end. Yesterday, I ran and completed the Army 10-Miler marking the end of this season in my life. This will also be my final blog post on R2ML (though I'm considering starting another blog).
At 12:33 a.m. on April 2, 2010 I wrote my first ever blog post. In it I described a journey I had embarked on to run the Army 10-Miler with my sister. My reasons for doing so included honoring my sister’s recovery from a stroke, becoming a better dad and husband, discovering truths about life and myself, and pushing myself to do something I never imagined I could do. I believe all those things have been fulfilled in one form or another.
As I sit here and write this final post I have to ask myself what this journey has really taught me. At the end of each blog post I have written a lesson to myself to remember what was going on in my heart and mind at the time. In total I’ve captured something like 116 lessons which mostly deal with the self.
The lesson I internalized this past Sunday is that life is not at all about the self. It’s about relationships and community. It’s about the bonds and love we share with others. True life lies in getting beyond yourself and realizing how connected you are to everyone and everything else.
30,000 people ran the Army-10 Miler and the connection we all shared for a moment is something I will never forget. I will also never forget the people I met along the way. One of my most memorable experiences was running past my family and friends as they cheered me on (loved the signs mom!). Words cannot express the depth of love I felt for them at that moment. It was as though I was looking at them through another set of eyes. Like I was seeing them for the first time again. They are my family. Souls God genetically and lovingly connected to me. Seeing my wife and children in that light moved me to tears. Wow! I thought to myself. These amazing miracles are our children Babe!
As I ran I witnessed countless acts of human dignity, connection, and love. A man completing the race in a wheelchair was encouraged and cheered on by those around him. A lady rode her bike along the runners and cheered words of encouragement. Army bands played music from my beloved Rocky films (I loved this). Wounded Warriors smiled as they ran by. People from all walks of life and nationalities shared a glance of understanding and fellowship.
Something that was especially moving was the race started and ended at the Pentagon. I couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of connection and love for my country. A country where life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness are a reality. A country where anyone is free to run to and find their life. Thank you to all that have served and continue to serve to protect and defend those values. Running with you, for you, and in memory of you was an honor.
This all inspired me in a way I have never known. This was my greatest lesson. We exist on this planet to love and care for one another. It’s what God intends I believe. This is tonight’s lesson. The final lesson of this journey.
Thank you for running to my life with me. I pray your own journey may always be blessed.
Sadly every beginning has its end. I’ve run to my life and found it. New adventures like a 4th baby are next!
I hope these words inspire you to seek and find the truth within yourself my friend. Go and run to your life and let me know how it’s going.
God bless!
journeyman@r2ml.com
"Shine On"
Somewhere between the end
And the point where we begin
There's a fire burning brightly
That's found it's way to dim
When the feeling's gone...
Shine on Shine on
and onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
I was with you in the valley
And up upon that hill
So take just one more step in front of you
For I am with you still you still
And you're not alone
Shine on Shine on
And onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
Can you see my hands are open
I am waiting just ahead
And you think you need it all now
But you needed me instead
Shine on shine on shine on shine on won't you won't you shine
Shine on Shine on
And onto something new its long and overdue
I will remember you
Shine on shine on
And let the other's see you've got your victory
Will you remember me
Somewhere between the end and the point where we began
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Into the Deep
In the end it's just you and the fire in your heart,
The praise, inspiration, and glory will fade.
Who will you be then?
Will you know the truth?
How did you get here to begin with?
Shouldn’t you have died along the way?
Step after step you took,
Running into the unknown.
What will be waiting for you,
You can only wonder.
It doesn’t matter now,
Just run with all your heart.
Remember I am there,
In every step you take.
I’ll never leave you,
I’ll never let you down.
You had the will to choose,
And you chose Me.
That means something you know,
More than is understood at times.
Let go now.
Trust in Me.
I am with you.
I love you... remember this kiddo.
You were created to do this.
No lesson tonight. You are the lesson.
Here's a video to help you clear your mind and relax. Remember to enjoy the journey.
The praise, inspiration, and glory will fade.
Who will you be then?
Will you know the truth?
How did you get here to begin with?
Shouldn’t you have died along the way?
Step after step you took,
Running into the unknown.
What will be waiting for you,
You can only wonder.
It doesn’t matter now,
Just run with all your heart.
Remember I am there,
In every step you take.
I’ll never leave you,
I’ll never let you down.
You had the will to choose,
And you chose Me.
That means something you know,
More than is understood at times.
Let go now.
Trust in Me.
I am with you.
I love you... remember this kiddo.
You were created to do this.
No lesson tonight. You are the lesson.
Here's a video to help you clear your mind and relax. Remember to enjoy the journey.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Defining Moments
My mind is starting to try and play tricks on me. Why? I think it wants me to fail on Sunday. Why? Because when I complete the Army 10-Miler I will have proven it a liar.
It’s telling me my knee hurts. That I’m not used to running in the cold. That I haven’t fully recovered from a chest cold. On and on it goes. But I’m not listening. Live or die I will run on Sunday.
This leads me to another conversation going on in my head. One between my old self and my new self. My new self feels it is on the threshold of a different existence. One where anything is possible. It does not believe in self imposed boundaries. It only believes in possibilities and perseverance to make them happen.
Life is a bit surreal right now. But I like it.
Tonight’s lesson is to seek and live those defining moments in your life. You know. The moments that let you know who you really are and what you were created for.
Here’s a song to inspire that moment.
It’s telling me my knee hurts. That I’m not used to running in the cold. That I haven’t fully recovered from a chest cold. On and on it goes. But I’m not listening. Live or die I will run on Sunday.
This leads me to another conversation going on in my head. One between my old self and my new self. My new self feels it is on the threshold of a different existence. One where anything is possible. It does not believe in self imposed boundaries. It only believes in possibilities and perseverance to make them happen.
Life is a bit surreal right now. But I like it.
Tonight’s lesson is to seek and live those defining moments in your life. You know. The moments that let you know who you really are and what you were created for.
Here’s a song to inspire that moment.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Looking in the Mirror
What do you see when you look in the mirror? The face of a person broken by life? How about the face of a person who is the embodiment of life?
What’s going on behind those eyes you see has a lot to do with the answer.
When I look in the mirror I see a man shaped by time. A man who has known joy and pain. Laughter and tears. I see a man who has a life ahead of him. A man that will finish the race better than he started it. I see a man who knows how to love because he is love. He is the manifestation of love. A gift from his Creator and Father. He just forgot this for a while.
Tonight’s lesson is to look into the mirror of your own life and ask yourself what you see. Anything less than a miracle is a lie.
Here is a movie clip that connects with this lesson.
What’s going on behind those eyes you see has a lot to do with the answer.
When I look in the mirror I see a man shaped by time. A man who has known joy and pain. Laughter and tears. I see a man who has a life ahead of him. A man that will finish the race better than he started it. I see a man who knows how to love because he is love. He is the manifestation of love. A gift from his Creator and Father. He just forgot this for a while.
Tonight’s lesson is to look into the mirror of your own life and ask yourself what you see. Anything less than a miracle is a lie.
Here is a movie clip that connects with this lesson.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
True Nature
Can life change in a blink? Yes it can. Just like that God pours his Spirit into yours. Like He did when you were conceived.
Life. What’s the meaning of it all? How did I get to a place where I forgot the truth of things? How did life lose its magic? Easy. I became human. Forgot that that’s just part of the story. Yes, I’m human, but also spirit. Why? Because God created me and He is spirit. A part of me is what I see in the mirror. The other part is what I can’t see with my eyes but feel when I close my eyes and listen with my heart.
This running journey has reminded me of my true nature. It’s the force that propels me forward and graces me with the ability to run 10 miles and beyond. Daily life and its worries had beaten my vision and dreams down. I always knew they were there, but the weight of responsibility drowned me. Instead of lying down and dying a slow death I opted to get up and run. Run to my life that is.
Life can change in a blink. This is tonight's lesson.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
Life. What’s the meaning of it all? How did I get to a place where I forgot the truth of things? How did life lose its magic? Easy. I became human. Forgot that that’s just part of the story. Yes, I’m human, but also spirit. Why? Because God created me and He is spirit. A part of me is what I see in the mirror. The other part is what I can’t see with my eyes but feel when I close my eyes and listen with my heart.
This running journey has reminded me of my true nature. It’s the force that propels me forward and graces me with the ability to run 10 miles and beyond. Daily life and its worries had beaten my vision and dreams down. I always knew they were there, but the weight of responsibility drowned me. Instead of lying down and dying a slow death I opted to get up and run. Run to my life that is.
Life can change in a blink. This is tonight's lesson.
Here’s a song that resonates with this lesson.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Towards the End
In life you must sometimes run the journey alone. Nobody or anything can do for you what you must do for yourself.
Last week my sister and running partner notified me she would not be able to run the Army 10-Miler with me this Sunday. At first I was discouraged. This was something we had hoped to do together. A big part of my embarking on this journey was to complete it with her. Unfortunately, her knee is injured and running 10 miles is not possible right now.
With this news I had to take a look inside my heart. What is life trying to tell me? Why have things played out the way they have? I don’t know to be honest. What I do know is that I must run and complete this race with all my heart. When I started this journey I was unsure if I could make it. Now I believe I can. It’s only 10 miles and roughly 100 minutes, but to me it feels like lifetime.
I can see my family at the finish line. It’s for them that I’m really doing this. I want them to know that the answer to life lies on the other side of the unknown. Anyone who dares to can venture there. You only need to believe in yourself and commit to taking the steps. Break through the fear and pain that holds you back and you will be amazed at what you discover. Life. This is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song that inspired this lesson.
Last week my sister and running partner notified me she would not be able to run the Army 10-Miler with me this Sunday. At first I was discouraged. This was something we had hoped to do together. A big part of my embarking on this journey was to complete it with her. Unfortunately, her knee is injured and running 10 miles is not possible right now.
With this news I had to take a look inside my heart. What is life trying to tell me? Why have things played out the way they have? I don’t know to be honest. What I do know is that I must run and complete this race with all my heart. When I started this journey I was unsure if I could make it. Now I believe I can. It’s only 10 miles and roughly 100 minutes, but to me it feels like lifetime.
I can see my family at the finish line. It’s for them that I’m really doing this. I want them to know that the answer to life lies on the other side of the unknown. Anyone who dares to can venture there. You only need to believe in yourself and commit to taking the steps. Break through the fear and pain that holds you back and you will be amazed at what you discover. Life. This is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song that inspired this lesson.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Going Home... Again
Through my children I am reborn. Not in a way that imposes my dreams but in a way that releases theirs. Life is beautiful I tell them. Everyday magic still exists. You have the power to shape your life. God dwells within you. Are the embodiment of His greatness.
Life is not supposed to be a place of torment and needless suffering. It’s a journey to find yourself. In doing so you come to understand your Creator in way that transcends human understanding. Life will have its pain, but it serves a purpose. To realize the light you must have awareness of the dark. In this reality at least and it’s the only one I know right now.
Life means something. You have to discover and live that something. To do this you must venture into the unknown. When the unknown becomes known you will understand the meaning of it all. You might even realize you are home and it's where you belong. That is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song that connects with this lesson.
Life is not supposed to be a place of torment and needless suffering. It’s a journey to find yourself. In doing so you come to understand your Creator in way that transcends human understanding. Life will have its pain, but it serves a purpose. To realize the light you must have awareness of the dark. In this reality at least and it’s the only one I know right now.
Life means something. You have to discover and live that something. To do this you must venture into the unknown. When the unknown becomes known you will understand the meaning of it all. You might even realize you are home and it's where you belong. That is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song that connects with this lesson.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Learning the Hard Way
“Dreams without action are fantasies.” That’s the thought I’ve been having lately.
Everyday I wake up with a headful of possibilities and anxieties. The possibilities inspire and energize me. The anxieties discourage me. Both serve a purpose, but at the same time pull me into the past or future. They work to keep me from the present moment known as reality.
Reality is I need to wake-up and get moving if I am to accomplish anything worthwhile. Thinking about what I can do has value, but if I don’t write it down and take action it never happens. I’m a possibilities thinker and have a natural inclination towards idea generation. The problem is ideas can be so exciting compared to the actual work required to materialize those ideas. It takes enormous discipline to stick with something once the initial “high” has worn off.
So what does this have to do with running? A lot.
When I originally thought about running the Army 10-miler I was full of energy and hope. The thought of training and conditioning my body and mind was exciting. Then I went running for the first time and the euphoria wore off quickly. I realized that I was on a painful journey. One that would require commitment, discipline, and sacrifice. I internalized this and started this blog to keep me motivated and focused.
Now the race is 12 days away and something inside of me has ignited. I want to run and finish the race with heart. I also want to apply all that I have felt and learned to the rest of my life.
“Dreams without action are fantasies.” This is tonight’s lesson. One I am learning the hard way. But I'm also loving every moment of it. I only have one shot at life afterall.
Here’s a video that resonates with this lesson.
Everyday I wake up with a headful of possibilities and anxieties. The possibilities inspire and energize me. The anxieties discourage me. Both serve a purpose, but at the same time pull me into the past or future. They work to keep me from the present moment known as reality.
Reality is I need to wake-up and get moving if I am to accomplish anything worthwhile. Thinking about what I can do has value, but if I don’t write it down and take action it never happens. I’m a possibilities thinker and have a natural inclination towards idea generation. The problem is ideas can be so exciting compared to the actual work required to materialize those ideas. It takes enormous discipline to stick with something once the initial “high” has worn off.
So what does this have to do with running? A lot.
When I originally thought about running the Army 10-miler I was full of energy and hope. The thought of training and conditioning my body and mind was exciting. Then I went running for the first time and the euphoria wore off quickly. I realized that I was on a painful journey. One that would require commitment, discipline, and sacrifice. I internalized this and started this blog to keep me motivated and focused.
Now the race is 12 days away and something inside of me has ignited. I want to run and finish the race with heart. I also want to apply all that I have felt and learned to the rest of my life.
“Dreams without action are fantasies.” This is tonight’s lesson. One I am learning the hard way. But I'm also loving every moment of it. I only have one shot at life afterall.
Here’s a video that resonates with this lesson.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tips for Living
1. Keep your unfounded opinions to yourself
2. Listen twice as much as you speak
3. Allow others to be who they are without judgment
4. Believe in yourself and your abilities
5. Always do your best and encourage others to do the same
6. Sincerely share your life’s story
7. Love without condition
Tonight's lesson? Be yourself by letting go of who you think you are and becoming who you truly are. How do you do this? See the 7 steps above. :-)
Here's a song to inspire that realization.
2. Listen twice as much as you speak
3. Allow others to be who they are without judgment
4. Believe in yourself and your abilities
5. Always do your best and encourage others to do the same
6. Sincerely share your life’s story
7. Love without condition
Tonight's lesson? Be yourself by letting go of who you think you are and becoming who you truly are. How do you do this? See the 7 steps above. :-)
Here's a song to inspire that realization.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Pour Your Heart Out
In the depths of existence
Lies a place few venture
It’s here one discovers the light
Go there my friends
And extract its nectar
Carry it home in your heart
Stare into the blank canvas
Be it pixels or papyrus
And poor out all you have found
The universe will applaud you
And men will ask how
Such brilliance could exist
Tonight’s lesson? Let the creativity in your heart pour out. You will be amazed at what’s in there.
Here’s are some inspirational thoughts to inspire you.
Lies a place few venture
It’s here one discovers the light
Go there my friends
And extract its nectar
Carry it home in your heart
Stare into the blank canvas
Be it pixels or papyrus
And poor out all you have found
The universe will applaud you
And men will ask how
Such brilliance could exist
Tonight’s lesson? Let the creativity in your heart pour out. You will be amazed at what’s in there.
Here’s are some inspirational thoughts to inspire you.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
No Escape
I’m looking for an escape. Instead I must run towards that I seek to escape from. The hidden exit door lies at its center, not its outskirts.
So what do I fear most? Failing. Failing to provide for my family. Failing to deliver on what I say I can deliver. Failing to live my dreams. Which brings me to another question.
What is my dream? To help others realize and live their own dreams I think. But can this dream sustain my existence. Can it pay my mortgage and put food on the table. Can it make me happy? I don’t think life will answer these questions without me first venturing out in faith. This is scary. Keeps me up at night thinking about it.
What has this running journey taught me so far? Step by step, mile by mile. Turn the pain into energy. Let go of limited thinking. Keep at it and grow stronger. It's alright to be afraid. Just push through it.
The Army 10-Miler is 19 days away. I feel good about my training and progress. Now I just need to apply all I’ve felt and learned to my greatest journey – life. This is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song that connects with this lesson.
So what do I fear most? Failing. Failing to provide for my family. Failing to deliver on what I say I can deliver. Failing to live my dreams. Which brings me to another question.
What is my dream? To help others realize and live their own dreams I think. But can this dream sustain my existence. Can it pay my mortgage and put food on the table. Can it make me happy? I don’t think life will answer these questions without me first venturing out in faith. This is scary. Keeps me up at night thinking about it.
What has this running journey taught me so far? Step by step, mile by mile. Turn the pain into energy. Let go of limited thinking. Keep at it and grow stronger. It's alright to be afraid. Just push through it.
The Army 10-Miler is 19 days away. I feel good about my training and progress. Now I just need to apply all I’ve felt and learned to my greatest journey – life. This is tonight’s lesson.
Here’s a song that connects with this lesson.
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