A few of my virtual running buddies have shared how their long runs are a opportunity to pray and it is SO true.
And now I have the longest run I have ever done planned for Sunday. 13.1 miles. A half marathon. Zoikes!
It is no coincidence in my book that I signed up for this race the day before we found out about Molly’s cancer; the day that Molly and Peter were sitting in the oncologist’s office; the day that so many of us became even more hungry for prayers, for that conversation with God. And that same week we got the news about Molly, we also found out about my step-sis-in-law, Cindy’s early diagnosis and David’s mom’s diagnosis. Lots of prayers. Lots of miles.
I am a solo runner…in body only. So far I have yet to actually run with a partner (other than Isabella in her stroller). Not that I won’t, I’d love to…I just haven’t had the opportunity…yet. So my runs consist of me and my Zune. (Yes, all you iGeeks, I go against the grain…on occasion.) But this is where y’all come in. Over the last month, my friends and family have been sending me music…Over 5 hours worth of music! (Enough for a full marathon….hmmmm, interesting.) You sent everything from Lady Gaga to Abba to Beastie Boys to Queen to booty shakin’ hip hop to heart pumpin’ techno to Social Justice lovin’ reggae and cows! Songs about cows! And you sent me lots of prayers. For Molly, and for your families, for my family, for our church and the transitions, and the leaders, and the prayers of our prayer group.
And that music has been in my training, in my head while I work and drive around town. YOU are my music. A song pops up and I automatically think and pray with you. You are simultaneously giving me support to continue running…your energy moves me forward and hopefully you can feel my energy and Spirit too. Like this interconnected Spiritual dance way above us; like those Spirits are having a little chat or dancing or hugging or *gasp* running, or loving one another all while giving me some kickass beats to keep moving! And to keep praying!
Molly has her own blog, Holy Spirit Portality. It is SO worth reading. Even if you don’t know her, you will relate. I promise you. You will laugh, but bring Kleenex.
Today she wrote…
“I would love to liberate cancer/chemo from its context, and just think of it as one more thing, not in a category all by itself, that humans put themselves through in order to gain something, learn something, manifest or transform something, get strong, grow up, kick ass...
…I am going to see if I can shift my thinking about chemo, poco a poco—as yet another endurance training, yet another sort of gestation with all kinds of crazy unanticipated side effects.”
This is the course another kick-ass woman from our church and I am running this weekend.
Like life, this course has a lot of hills and therefore, a LOT of transitions. I don't know what it is going to be like. I haven't run it yet. But I know the hills are there. I don't know what the rest of Molly’s or Cindy’s or Margie’s treatment is going to be like, or what our church, or my life or your life is going to be like. But I know there are lots of transitions. My mom calls them Loving Changes. She even wrote a book/journal about it. Go mom!
I also know that we are going to attack those hills and we have a whole "verizon-like" Spiritual bodies, past, present and future, all there pulling for us to liberate and kick ass. Can you hear me now?
Your songs are going to help keep me on course so thank you.
I won’t share all the songs, but I will share the one that has been the biggest inspiration, the theme song for this race if you will. Mellissa Ethridge’s I Run for Life.
This song is timed (hopefully) to pop up during the biggest hills on the course.
It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me, my friend
I run for life
It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To awake when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister, your daughter, your wife
For you and me my friend
I run for life
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
Amen!
2 comments:
Wow, sweetheart! You are tapping into something very profound and yet very simple. St. Augustine was known to say, "Solvitur ambulando" (it is solved by walking). I imagine these saintly walks of his were punctuated with prayer (and maybe a Geogorian chant or two :-)). You've taken the "walks" and given them a 21st century spin with today's music at today's pace (13.5 miles in a little over 2 hours!!!). Thanks for your faithfulness to these disciplines of body and spirit. I'm "loving the changes" it's inspired! oxox, Mom
you rocked your first 1/2 ...woo hoo!
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