Uncategorized

When You Can’t Fix the Problem

I’m normally a pretty happy person so it takes lot to get me down. However when I do get depressed it reaches pretty intense levels (we are talking jelly beans, pepsi, french fries, and way too much Netflix.)

I went through a couple of these phases last week (which hasn’t happened in a while) because my return to Australia continues to be delayed.

Please understand this frustration isn’t directed towards Immigration because they are just doing their job. What breaks my heart is not being able to help the people of Australia who have become so precious to me

More than anything else though depression comes from the fact that I cannot fix the problem

Many people (men especially) embrace the role of dealing with or “fixing” their own problems. While part of this is pride, it mostly comes from the natural desire for independence (taking care of things on our own).

Eventually though we are going to run into a problem that cannot be fixed. And what we do then truly defines us.

Obviously discouragement and frustration in situations like this are natural…the problem is when thats your ONLY response

I mean seriously watching Greys Anatomy on Netflix only helps so much
just kidding…I prefer Gilmore Girls

Though painful those depressing experiences help us understand reality (in my case returning to Australia is going to take a while). The good news is this allows us to find things that we CAN FIX instead of trying to fix problems outside of our control.

For me personally this means becoming a positive role-model to children (young men especially) who need guidance and help

It’s amazing what doors open up when you start focusing on things you can do.

In the last month I have begun.

1. Mentoring a High School Senior
2. Giving personal tutoring to kindergarteneres and first-traders
4. Getting involved in a reading help program
5. Helping in an after school program with twenty-four first graders
6. Starting a fitness program for elementary age children
7. Training for a reading program with inmates in a local prison
8. And will soon start one on one computer tutoring

Is this what I want do for the rest of  my life?  No of course not.

I still wake up every morning wishing I was in Australia

And go to bed every night dreaming of my return

But until that day comes my heart will actively pursue doors opened by God instead of trying to force ones the He has closed for the time being.

So when facing a problem that can’t be fixed do yourself a favor;

  1. Put down the jelly beans
  2. Pour that pepsi down the drain
  3. Turn off Netflix (unless it’s Gilmore Girls)
  4. And find the ways that you can help others

I’m not promising that everything will suddenly become perfect…but it will ensure when that opportunity does come, you will be ready for it.

Marathon Training

Why You Should Never Run Alone

In late July I began a Marathon training program with serious concerns about wehther or not I could run ten-miles. In October I ended up running 149 miles total.

What made the difference?

  1. A training plan that gradually worked it’s way up to longer runs
  2. Proper nutrition
  3. Self-confidence that grew as I acheived goals
  4. But more than anything else it was my training partners

Till about a year ago I would always run or train on my own just because it was more convenient. However I’ve since made the commitment to never run alone (or as little as possible).

Because running with partners keeps you going on the hard days.

There are experiences in training that will make a person want to give up or quit [1]. And if your training on your own (like I was) then the motivation to keep going must come FROM YOURSELF.

Obviously this resulted in lots of training runs ending early.

That’s why having training partners who can give encouragement along the way is so awesome.

Last Saturday was a particularly hard run for me [2] and to be quite honest my mind was telling me to give up about half-way through. Thankfully that’s when my partners started giving encouragement and telling jokes to take my mind off of the pain.

Runs like that are reminders we need more than just determination when facing challenges. Because our determination can only take us so far

In that moment when you really want to give up there must be a motivation “outside of yourself” that comes from trusted friends.

In twelve days I will finish the Richmond Marathon, something that would never be accomplished without my faithful running partners.

  1. Who slowed me down when I was going too fast
  2. Who encouraged me when I was going too slow
  3. Who confronted me when I missed a training run
  4. Who listened to all my corny jokes, and sang disney songs to make me laugh
  5. Who used logic to motivate me (fn)
  6. Who always gave me a high-five and good job when we were finished
  7. And more than anything else kept me going when I wanted to give up

Thanks for reminding me it’s not about how strong you are, but whether or not there are people to help in your weak moments.

  1. large hills, leg cramps, lack of energy  ↩
  2. It was forty-two degrees and raining  ↩
  3. If you can run eighteen miles of course you can run twenty!
John Wilburn Missionary to Melbourne

Why I Miss Halloween

On a table in my family room there is a bowl filled with about fifty fun-size candy bars, and it makes me very sad.

Part of this is because around foty-six of those candy bars will be consumed by family members. We will give out four or five to trick or treaters if we are lucky

The real sadness though comes from the fact that Haloween is no longer awesome.

I can remember as a child dressing up every year and two-hours later coming home with huge bags of candy [1]. And while the treats were great, the truly awesome part was just being able to be a kid.

Editors Note: I realize Halloween is a very polarizing subject so let me clarify that I’m referring here to the childhood experience of trick or treating, and don’t agree with everything associated with the holiday.

Unfortunately it’s not safe to go out trick or treating any more.

Sure this has been replaced by some fun things like fall festivals, parties at home, trunk or treats, or visits to the local pumpkin patch.

But part of me wishes that kids today could experience the same Halloween I did without parents worrying for thier safety.

While helping a kindergartener with some reading Wednesday we started talking about Halloween.

He excitedly described his costume to me, but then explained with a bit of sadness that he wasn’t allowed to go trick or treating [2].

While this is the right decision I mourn over the fact that children aren’t able to experience many of the things I did as a kid.

Because we live in a broken world.

Thankfully it’s still possible to be a kid on Halloween [3] but sometimes we need to take a moment and mourn the small things lost.

Like childhood

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have forty-six candy bars to eat

  1. which became carefully rationed after the two-day sugar rush of 1983  ↩
  2. it’s my personal opinion that this is the right decision, particularly at his young age  ↩
  3. Don’t forget to dress up and get your Krispie Kreme donut!  ↩
Marathon Training

Why I Run (And You Should Too)

It doesn’t take long for people to figure out running is a big part of my life. The question they usually have after learning I’m a runner is “why do you run?”

My answer to this is different from the normal reasons for running or exercise.

  1. Like staying in shape (losing weight)
  2. Stress relief
  3. to have fun
  4. Or make new friends

While all of these are motivations the most important reason for running is this: I run because of what I used to be

Allow me to explain…

God in His sovereignty didn’t choose to give me lots of athletic skill [1] which meant as a child anything that involved physical activity usually ended in embarrassment.

And because exercise was avoided at all costs I was always out of shape and overweight.

It wasn’t till 2000 (a year after graduating from College) that I finally decided to take fitness seriously for the first time in my life.

Today I regret spending so many years using lack of natural ability as an excuse for inhaling bag after bag of microwave popcorn [2].

There’s an idea in the minds of people that unless you have the physical skill of Lebron James, Peyton Manning, or Derek Jeter you can never get in shape. Let me just go ahead and clarify something for you…that’s a lie.

Of course we know this, but sometimes you need to see that non-athletic person conquer physical challenges

And that’s why I run

  1. It isn’t always pretty
  2. You will never mistake me for Usain Bolt
  3. I’m usually the last one in my group
  4. And lets just say my form isn’t perfect [3]

but if one person who buys into the “I can never get in shape” lie sees me and is challenged it will be worth it.

  1. The kind who wore “husky jeans” as a child
  2. Who always got diet pepsi while thier brother or sister got regular pepsi
  3. Who always happened to come down with something just when PE class started
  4. Who tried dozens of diets, but never really changed their eating habits [4]

I’m convinced the world is filled with people who truly want to put the donut down and start getting fit. But they need heros and role models.

Which is why we all must run

  1. the ability to play sports  ↩
  2. Especially days like today when my old knees are giving me grief…and by old I mean 38  ↩
  3. It’s gotten worse since a friend told me I point my feet in when I run  ↩
  4. by the way all of these happened to me so I’m not singling anyone out other than myself  ↩