Rounding the Corner

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

When I was running on vacation recently, I was thinking about how much I enjoy running in new places. The really exciting thing is seeing new things. I often run a little further to see what's around the next corner or over the hill.

I sometimes go to these new places with very little idea what roads I will be running on or what the terrain will be like. Occasionally, I plan out a route, especially when I'm training for a race; but it is still a surprise. Until you are in a place you really don't know what it looks like.

I started to wonder if that is how God wants us to live our lives; running to the next corner or over the next hill to see what's there. We may find incredible beauty and a smooth road or we may find uneven terrain, barren landscape or a huge hill. But we won't know until we get there.

Should I stop because I don't know what is around the next corner? It would be safe to turn back and stay on a road I know; but I think that if I stop I might miss something beautiful. Sure, there is the risk that I will find rough terrain, but I don't know what I will find until I turn the corner. I may never know the beauty I missed, but I will probably wonder what I lost by not rounding that corner.

I think life is like that; we must go around the corner to see what is there. It may be wonderful or horrible, but we won't know unless we continue to run forward. I do know that God is already around the corner preparing to meet me. God will celebrate the beauty with me or He will carry me over the rough terrain. He promises to be there in every circumstance!

I also believe that the road I have taken to get thus far has prepared me for what is around the corner. I have followed the road that has been laid out for me and I must continue to move forward. It would get rather boring if I kept running on the same portion of road over and over again. There would be no learning, growing, or adventure.

So I run forward anxiously awaiting what is around the corner. I look forward to meeting God in a new way, on a new path. I look for the adventure that my life is to be, growing in my love for God, others and myself.

I'll see you around the corner!

Assume Nothing

A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have.

-Unknown

As I was running this morning I came to an intersection at the same time as a car making a right turn. The driver had a stop sign and she did stop, but there are many times I have seen cars slow down look to their left and keep going. Given how often I have seen this, I stopped so that I wouldn't get run over; I was pleasantly surprised  when she came to a complete stop and looked at me to go ahead. Of course I had the right of way, but that doesn't mean anything if I get hit by a car.

As I passed the intersection and waved my thanks to the driver, I thought about how I assume nothing at these intersections. I don't know what to expect as the drivers come to the corner. Will they stop? Will they see me? Even though I always wear reflective and bright gear, I'm not sure I will be seen. As a matter of fact, my husband, Dave, was almost hit this morning by a driver who wasn't looking as she made a right turn on red without stopping. So, for my safety I assume nothing.

What if we lived life assuming nothing? What if we assumed nothing when we meet a person who looks or acts different than us? What if we assumed nothing when we hear about an organization? What if we assumed nothing when we were in an unpleasant or difficult situation? What if we taught our children to assume nothing?

If I assume nothing about a person, I might learn how similar we are instead of how different. I might learn about the common cause that brings us together, not the tiny idea that pulls us apart. If I assume nothing about a person I may make a new friend. My new friend may change me and help me grow into a better and wiser person.

If I assume nothing about an organization, I might learn the good it is doing. I might find out that the organization is improving lives. If I assume nothing, I might find a cause I can believe in. I may become part of a new organization and start helping to change the world. If I assume nothing, my life might be improved.

If I assume nothing in a difficult situation, I might listen to the other person's point of view. I might find out that the other person is scared or hurt. If I assume nothing, I might learn something about myself. I might find a better way to communicate. If I assume nothing, I might change my view of the world. I may bring healing to the other person and myself.

If we teach our children to assume nothing, maybe they would see the world differently. Maybe they would not bully or pick on other kids based on how they looked or acted. If our children assumed nothing, maybe they would truly treat everyone equally. Maybe they would bring true peace to the world. If our children assumed nothing, maybe they would end hunger. Maybe they would find cures for MS, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.

The way to peace and equality may be to assume nothing. It is really hard, we make assumptions, judgements really, constantly. Our past experiences lead us to make assumptions about people, places and organizations. However, we don't want someone to assume they know what we are like by our looks, our friends or our associations. So, I am going to try to assume nothing when I meet someone, hear about an organization or am in a difficult situation. I am going to try to teach my children and the children I work with to assume nothing. What will you assume as you encounter new people, places and situations?

Running Solo in Community

I have been thinking a lot about my local "running community." I need to use quotation marks because I don't even know most of the people I'm thinking about by name. Also, not all are runners, but they are people I come across on a regular basis when running in my neighborhood.

Dave, my husband, and I have nicknames for some of the regulars so that we know who we are talking about. There is "Newspaper Guy", "Runner in the Middle of the Road", "The Walking Woman" and the "Runner with the Headset." We mean no disrespect, but we don't these people's names; however, if we don't see one for a while we wonder about them. Are they okay? Maybe he just ran a marathon and is resting or maybe we were just too early or late to see him/her.

Even though I don't have conversations beyond "Good morning" with any of these people I know that if I were in trouble they would stop to help me. I also know that they notice my absence, "Newspaper Guy" even commented on the fact that he hadn't seen me much lately once. I feel we are a community of people that are up and out early in the morning. Our reasons for being out are different, we are all different ages and I'm sure we work in different industries, but we are a community.

We also notice someone different; we are willing to welcome him/her into our community, but I admit a bit of hesitancy. I realize this sounds ridiculous because we are not a tight-knit group, but it takes me a few times of seeing a new person to completely accept that he/she is part of the routine. I think this is in part because for me running is a solo activity. It is a time for me to be by myself with no pressure to think about anything or to speak to someone; a time when I am open to hearing God. Being an introvert, this time alone is important to me and also necessary.

Yet, I want to see the regulars and greet them. If I don't see anyone it seems weird. Dave and I have even joked that all is right with the world when we see two or three of the regulars. I want to be alone, but to know that I'm not alone.

I was thinking about this today as I was one of 7,000 runners at the starting line for the Buffalo Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Race. I ran the Half Marathon but all runners start at the same time. As I was standing among 7,000 people that all share an interest and are willing to talk to whoever is next to them in the starting chute I was reminded how big the running community is. I'm a middle-of-the-field runner so I was surrounded by runners for the entire 13.1 miles. There are a few small hills along the course and it was amazing to see this sea of humanity in front of me as I was running at the top of the hills.

Each runner has a story, their very own reason for being on that course. For some it is to raise money for a good cause, for some it is to get/stay fit, for some it is to celebrate life/health/recover, for some it is to push a person who cannot walk or run for themselves. We are a very diverse group; young and old, tall and short, black, brown and white, fast and slow. We have our own triumphs and set-backs; success and failure; joy and sadness. We are different, but the same; we have a common goal, to finish the race. We are each on our own journey, but the finish line is the same.

The thing that always amazes me when I run a race is how other runners cheer each other on. If the course is a loop, the leaders pass the rest of us on their way back; and the runners in the middle or back of the pack cheer on the leaders. Some of the leaders then stand near the finish line cheering on those of us that are behind them. Today I heard one of those runners shouting, "Keep going! You are doing great!" We all care for each other, even if we don't know one another.

I may be running solo, but I'm not alone. I am part of a community who cares for me, even if we aren't friends. Isn't that what Jesus commanded us to do? We are to love our neighbor, and our neighbor is everyone. We don't need to know each other's name, but we do need to love one another. That means we care for a person no matter how different from us he/she is. Maybe all we need to do to show we care is to smile or hold the door open for someone. We are all on our own journey through life, but we are not alone. We need to be there cheering others on, no matter where they are in the race of life. Our finish line is the same, so let's share the journey!

God in Mothers (Happy Mother's Day!)

I read recently that parents shape their child's first image or perception of God. As I was sitting in church today listening to a great sermon about God's love being in all of us, through Jesus, I was thinking about this statement. The Gospel lesson for today in the Revised Common Lectionary is one that makes you go "huh?"; until someone breaks it down. The reading is John 17:20-26, this is Jesus' prayer after the Passover meal before he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and ultimately His death. There are a lot of "me in you", "you in me" and "I in them" statements. The bottom line is that Jesus knows the love of God and because His followers know Him, they also know the love of God, or at least that is Jesus' prayer. (You can read Fr. Sean's sermon on his blog if you're interested; its worth checking out.)

The first place we experience (or don't experience) the love of God is in our homes. It is how our parents treat us, each other and others. Whether we know it our not, parents are a child's first experience of God. So each time a mother loses sleep to comfort a sick child, he sees a God of healing. When a mother listens to the anguish of teenage drama, she sees a God of comfort. When a mother scolds or disciplines a child, he sees a God of justice. When a mother drops everything to come to the aid of her adult child when suffering, she sees a God who is always present. Sorry to cut the dads out of the picture, but it is Mother's day!

I think of what I have learned from my mom through the years. I learned that God is patient as my mom tried to explain to the fire-year old me that I HAD to eat the Jell-o or I'd end up in the hospital when I was really sick. By the way, I also learned that God is wise since I didn't eat the Jell-o and ended up in the hospital. I learned that God's love does not depend on my attitude or emotions when I was a teen who insisted on doing everything the hard way. I learned that God is always there to bail me out of my mistakes when as a young adult she had to literally pay for my mistakes and then have me move back in with her and my dad. I also learned that God respects everyone and responds to each person according to their personality by having the privilege of working with her.

I carry these lessons with me each day and they influence who I am, what I do and what I say. Until today, I didn't realize how much my mom has represented God to me and others. As a professional in faith formation, I tell parents that they are their children's first teachers of the faith. But it goes so much deeper, they are God to their children. I wonder how we might parent differently if we thought of ourselves this way. I also hope that my children are learning that God is in love with them, unconditionally, unabashedly in love with them always.

Thank you to all the mothers and mother-figures who have shown the love of God in so many ways to their children! You have answered the highest calling and influenced the world!

Finding God in the Terror

I don't think that I have anything new or unusual to say, but I still feel called to talk about the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

Yesterday my friend shared a quote from Fred Rogers on Facebook and while I was reading that I was watching the news. The two were related in an interesting way, making me think that I was suppose to make the connection.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" - Fred Rogers

What I heard and saw on TV was Matt Lauer interviewing witnesses to the explosions. The one thing each person said was that they saw the volunteers, medical staff, police and fire personnel run to help those who were in need. Each one said the image that would stay with them for the rest of their lives was that of those running to help.

There are always helpers! That is were we find God in a terrible situation, it is in the helpers. God is in the people who run to help others, risking their lives, providing healing and comfort to those in need. God is in the soldier who ran 26.2 miles in uniform (it must have been heavy and hot) then turned back to help in the chaos of a war-like situation. God is in the volunteers who continued to hand out blankets, bottles of water and medals to the runners as they crossed the finish line . God can be found in the runners who showed up at area hospitals to give blood after running 26.2 miles, which takes pretty much everything out of a person.

It is NOT God's will that someone plant explosives at a crowded venue and have loss of life, limb and health. But God is still there in the midst of the loss through those who put their own needs, their own lives aside to provide healing, comfort, prayer to those who need it. I cannot imagine the pain felt by so many people, the loss, terror and trauma that will continue to haunt many for the rest of their lives; there is no pat, easy answer. The only comfort I can find is that God is there, in flesh and blood, in all the people who respond and help.

Violence is NOT God's will, but He has a definite response. The response is LOVE. God has shown us this through Jesus. He was beaten, mocked, tortured and killed on a cross. He did not strike with the sword, but responded with forgiveness and love. Let us remember the love that has flowed from so many people in this situation and carry it forward in our own lives. That is how we will find the living Christ.

What Goes Down, Must Come Up

During my first half-marathon last April a volunteer told me it was downhill when I turned left. I said, "then its up the big hill right?" Her response was "of course!"

That's life, isn't it? We keep going up and down hills. As I do my long runs on Saturdays this is my view as I head home. It's hard to see in the picture, but I'm going downhill with another hill right after that. There are several hills to go up and down along this stretch. I've already climbed and descended several hills like these to get to this point, since I do a loop. They are different hills, but I'm still covering similar ground.

We all want the mountain-top experiences and don't want to come down the mountain but at the same time we say that "it's all downhill from here" when we have gotten through a tough situation. We want to be at the top and going downhill, but we don't want to be in the valley (as in "the valley of the shadow of death") or going uphill. After all, we say "I'm fighting an uphill battle" when things are really difficult.

Well, we can't have it both ways; we can't be on top of the mountain and going downhill all the time. We must climb that mountain to meet God and have those amazing mountain-top experiences. And eventually, we have to come off the mountain and spend some time in the valley. The great thing is that God comes to meet us in the valley.

We can't have those mountain-top experiences without the difficult journey up the mountain. On our way up, we may fall down but someone will be there to help us up, if we let them. That is what friends and family are there for to help us climb the mountains of our lives.

Once at the top we can stay and rest in the presence of God and others will rejoice with us. But eventually we have to go back down the mountain. The trip down is easier and we are still basking in our experience as we coast downhill. Then we must spend some time in the valley, which can feel far from God. The amazing thing is that God meets us there as others lift us up and show us the beauty of the landscape around us.

Then we start up the next mountain, perhaps its a little easier and we are the ones helping others get up after falling this time. It is a different mountain, yet we have learned from our past experience. We understand the terrain better and can even enjoy the journey because we know what's at the top. We might even climb faster in our desire to rest with God again. And just like each run, where I end up at home to be welcomed by those I love and eat and rest, we will eventually end up back at home welcomed by God to stay and rest.

"I have seen the Lord!"

This is Mary's astounding proclamation three days after Jesus' death. She goes to the tomb to prepare Jesus' body and finds an empty tomb. After running to tell the disciples, returning with them because they couldn't believe without seeing, the disciples leave but Mary stays behind, weeping. Two men appear in the tomb and ask her why she is weeping. All she can say is that they have taken her Lord. Next a man appears that she assumes is the gardener and he asks why she is weeping. She asks if he moved her Lord. Then an amazing thing happens, this man says her name. I imagine it was said so gently with such love that she couldn't help but recognize it as Jesus' voice. Now everything has changed! She runs to tell the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!"

I think in our own way we can all say "I have seen the Lord." There are times when someone is so close to God and doing His will that we can see Jesus clearly in them. It's as if the curtain that separates us from God is pulled back for a brief moment.

I saw Jesus this week in my daughter, Cassie. In the midst of my grumbling and worrying about my petty little problems, all very earthy, she was looking to serve God and others. On Thursday she helped Fr. Sean, our rector, wash feet at our Maundy Thursday service. The most humbling of acts, washing another person's feet, and she wanted to do it, chose to do it joyfully. It is an awesome, humbling experience to have your 12-year old daughter kneel before you and wash your feet, but not only yours but anyone who comes to her, young or old.

Cassie wasn't done, she wanted to take part of the Prayer Vigil. At our church people sign up for half-hour time slots to come and pray at church from 9 pm on Thursday through 9 am on Friday. The idea is that we are waiting with Jesus and the disciples through his trial, beating and sentencing. Cassie chose 3:30 am to participate originally and since there were still spots left on Thursday after the service she decided we should take another time as well, so we signed-up for 7:30 am too. We got up around 2:30 am to allow enough time to wake up and get ourselves to church on time (it is about a 30 minute drive). We prayed, read and reflected for 30 minutes and then went home. I went to bed for a couple of hours, but Cassie stayed awake. Then at 7 o'clock we headed back to church and stayed for one hour this time.

Later we returned for Stations of the Cross at noon. I love doing the stations, we have a lightweight wooden cross that we all take turns carrying as we move from station to station. It is a wonderful way to feel like I am part of the story, which of course I am. Cassie gladly carried the cross twice. Later in the evening we went to the Community Good Friday service where Cassie was a reader. She really enjoyed that and has decided that she should read more in church. (By the way, she only slept for about 5 minutes in the car after Stations of the Cross.)

Before you start thinking I'm a bragging parent (well, I am) or that she is perfect let me assure you that she is a typical 12-year old. She is caring, loving, giving and lives life to its fullest and she is messy, disorganized, impatient and she has been practicing her attitude so that she has it just perfect when she's a teenager. I can take credit for the messy, disorganized, impatient, attitude girl; God gets the credit for the good stuff.

It's so easy for her, she just does what is helpful, giving and good (most of the time). She doesn't think what the cost is, how awkward it is to wash other people's feet, she just does it. Cassie enjoys giving, loving and sharing. I think she is on to something; maybe we need to just do and trust and there we will find joy. The unintentional consequence may be that someone will say "I have seen the Lord."