Run in Red Part 2

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." The Apostle Paul

So often the Christian life is referred to as a "race." Regular life is hard enough without our relationship with God being a grueling marathon, but fact remains that our existence is a hard fought race. For those of you who haven't figured it out by now, I consider myself a follower of Jesus Christ. Now, I'm not apologizing if that turns some of you away from reading my blog. I do ask that you try to be open minded. There is so much you can learn about your spiritual life from some "nobody's" insight on running. Why? Because...Life truly is a race.

I have decided to run my race in line with the teachings of Christ. In doing that, I have had to realize a couple of things.

First of all, I had to come to an understanding that I have screwed up in this life. That part was easy mostly because I reaffirm that statement daily (sometimes hourly). I mean we all goof up, right? Whether small or large, we all do wrong things we shouldn't and we all know it.

Second, was I had to believe in Jesus.. Now that is a little trickier. I mean, what does "believe in Jesus" really mean? Most people who follow the teachings of Christ do so because they were raised to do it and I used to fall into that category. Not anymore. I have read the word of God (I challenge you to do it), and believe it to be true. I believe that the almighty creator made this place to be a paradise, but we have screwed it up and ruined his perfect plan. I understand that in screwing it up we introduced death into this world. I realize that since we all have messed up we cant commune with God anymore and deserve death. I trust in the scripture that says that Jesus came to this planet and lived a blameless life and therefore didn't deserve death...but we killed him anyway. I also believe that he willingly let his blood be spilled so that he could take our place on deaths bed....But he conquered death, rose again and sits in heaven as my advocate to God. Now I can commune with God again.

Lastly, I had to let people know what I know. That can be even harder than the first two. Fear can grip a person when they allow themselves to be vulnerable. The world thinks most of us are freaks and nut jobs. We all want people to like us. What will my friends, family, colleagues think of me if they find out I am a "Jesus Freak"? What will I forfeit on this earth because I stand up for what I believe. Am I man enough to step forward and tell it like it is no matter the outcome...

Well, this is why I am writing this blog. This is how I can tell my story. God talks to me when I run, because the analogy is true. Life is a race. He gives meaning to his word in the little things that I experience when my feet hit the pavement. That is why I run in red.

This may sound gruesome, but I truly believe in the saving power of the blood of Jesus. Without it there would be just death. With it there is life and life abundant. Just as the Israelites, when in Egypt, covered their doors on Passover night with the blood of the lamb, so have I marked my life with the evidence of the lamb of God's sacrifice in my life. I want to live my life marked. I want to run my race covered with the blood of the Christ.

I choose to Run in Red.

Run in Red, part 1

"Success has a color, and the color is red. In fact, a recent study confirms previous reports that athletes wearing red uniforms win competitions more often than opponents dressed in other colors."... The Annals of Sports Psychology 2008

Really? I couldn't believe it. Does wearing the color red really give you an edge when competing? During the 2004 Olympics, scientists randomly assigned red and blue clothing to competitors. What they discovered was that when opponents where equally matched in fitness and skill, the athlete wearing red was more likely to win. From 1947 to 2003 the red wearing soccer teams from England's Premier League had a disproportionately higher rate of both winning home games and the championship than any other color. Is this the reason Tiger is always seen in a certain color on Sundays?

Researchers point out that "red fur, plumage, skin" is linked to higher testosterone levels, fitness, and aggression in animals. It also has a psychological affect on all involved, including referees!!! 42 experienced Tae-kwondo referees where shown 11 fight sequences depicting opponents in red and blue. The same refs were shown the same sequences with the uniform colors digitally switched. On average, athletes scored 13 percent more points when wearing red instead of blue. Not only does the color hype you up and scare your opponent, but the zebras love it!!!

I want to do my best when I run, especially on race day. I read up on running (a lot), train hard (for the most part), get good sleep (half the time), eat right (rarely). I roll out of bed at the butt-crack of dawn, get yelled at, chased by animals, dodge inattentive drivers, sweat, ache, freeze, sacrifice all to run my fastest and longest and bestest. We all want to be really good at something. For some it comes natural, for some it comes easy, for others (like myself) it requires grit, determination, and willingness to push ones self almost to the breaking point. If changing my clothes can make me a little bit faster, why wouldn't I do it?

I have decided to run in red.

Running with my eyes closed

Today was the first day in a while that I have run at a temperature below freezing (26degrees). It's really the first day of fall that felt like winter. So cold that the leaves on my neighbors ginkgo tree fell off in about 8 hours covering the bottom of the driveway with little yellow leaves. I like heading out in the morning when its good and cold a lot better than when its stinking hot. I really struggle to run in the heat, I think partly because I'm a little heavier than I should be. Also, I don't drink a lot of water. I drink quite a bit of pop (Diet Ale-8 to be specific, a local soft drink). Dehydration plays a significant part in my inability to finish strong in the summer. This morning was going to be a breeze.

False.

I hurt in my calves (gastrocnemius for you anatomy folks) not 20 feet from my house and I had 31,660 feet to go. Man was I in for a tough run. Usually when I start to struggle during a run, I start to think about my family. Mostly I think about my wife. I focus on her love for me, her sense of humor, her features, her touch, her wit, everything and anything about her. This keeps my mind off the fact that I am in pain or despair. It shifts my attention. I become less aware of how far I have come and how far I have to go. Before I know it, I have climbed the hill, turned the corner, cut the distance to only 2,560 feet. It's easy for me to think of her, because we are with each other every day and every night. We talk on the phone, text, laugh, cry, tease, disagree on a daily basis. I truly don't know what my day would look like without her voice in my head and face in my heart..... Yet I feel bad for focusing on her when I run.

Shouldn't I focus on God? I should. It is so difficult to shift my attention to him not because I haven't experienced him, but because I can't touch him. I want to talk, laugh, cry, disagree with him every day and every night. I want to feel his love for me, see his sense of humor, his touch, everything and anything about him, yet God can be so abstract.. I thought this over a lot this morning as I ran and kept coming back to the same thing.. God keeps telling me, "I am here, just open your eyes." "I am present in the falling leaves, in your wife's touch, in the cold fall air. "Listen to my voice in the lyrics of the song, or the words of the saint." "I am all around you." "Just open your eyes."

To often I run with my eyes closed.

No more..."I'm Sorry"

I have never had to apologize for another runner. Runners root for everyone. We see the potential in every person. We want to encourage each individual to give running a try. We don't sugar coat it, but we honestly put out the best invitation we can by being truthful, encouraging, and sincere about the sport. Just today, Cathy, my wife, was talking to a member of our community who happens to be a runner. This lady told my wife that she saw something today while she was running...Cathy immediately interrupted her with.."I ran 1 mile today!" The runner applauded her effort, not belittling the fact that it was only 1 mile. Cath told her it was all she could do to go 1 mile. The long time runner lifted Cathy up, by telling her that little by little you will be able to go farther. You will get faster. Its just great that you are trying. No condemnation, just truthful, encouraging, and sincere. That's the way all the runners I have come in contact with would have responded. I have never had to say I'm sorry for a fellow runner.

Step up on the soap box.

I am getting sick of having to apologize for Christians... Or should I say people who call themselves Christians. By definition a Christian is a person who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Theologically speaking....we could go on for days about that. I know it does mean, loving your neighbor as yourself. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. All the 10 commandments are kinda wrapped up in those two statements. Not stealing, lying, cheating, etc..... Well I'm getting tired of being accosted by non-believers because someone who claims to be a Christ follower continually shows something to the contrary by the way they live their life.

Being a follower of Christ is a radical thing, but most of us don't want to be labeled a radical. We just call ourselves Christians, and go about our day like nothing has ever changed. We wear a cross necklace or put a fish on the back of our car. Might even write something profound on social sites so everyone will know what we are.

Stop it. Take up running....running the race God has laid before you. Listen to what he says and do it. Just do it. If you don't, you're not a runner. Just a poser. I'm not saying "I'm sorry" for you anymore.

Brennan Manning said it best "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians. Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Big Words

I didn't realize that running has its own language.

Lactate threshold, Fartleks, Fast-Twitch, Tempo-runs, VO2max, singlet, blah, blah, blah. It took me 3 issues of Runners World magazine just to find out what PR stood for. By the way my PR is 4:30, my personal record. The first time I went to buy running shoes (which is an experience in itself), I was asked if I need motion control, stability, or some other type of shoe. What??? Do I overpronate, supinate, or some other nate?.. I just wanted a pair of shoes. I didn't know I would need a dictionary.

Running can be intimidating enough, without having to know a secret code. I felt belittled, almost stupid, because, for the longest time, I couldn't carry on a "runners conversation." It would go something like this.."Hey are you incorporating any Fartleks or Temp-runs in the midst of you training? You know it can really increase your lactate threshold." I would respond in my best caveman voice, "Me go run now..."

When I try to be an ambassador for running, I try to leave out all the technical jargon and just keep it simple. Most people don't like big words.

Redemption, Sanctification, resurrection, immaculate conception, repentance, revelation, testimony... Just like in running these are important, yet confusing to the "non-runner." I don't like big words.

Being a Christ-follower can be intimidating enough without having to know a secret code. Keep it simple. I love the scripture after Jesus heals this guy who hasn't been able to see since birth. The religious leaders try to say that Jesus sinned by healing this guy, so they bring the blind man into court. Now this fellow isn't some learned religious scholar, just a plain man who experienced God in his life. I love what he tells the leaders..."I don't know if this Jesus is a sinner or not. One thing I do know is that I was blind, but know I can see." Pretty simple. Works for me.

Just because

I miss my dad. He passed away suddenly in a motorcycle accident a year ago, and I miss him everyday. As a child growing up he taught me many things, one of which was a love for all genres of music. Rock-n-roll, country, bluegrass, jazz, classical. Tonight I ran with my headphones in, listening to Tony winning lyrics and harmonies that my father had played for me when I was very young. You probably wont believe me, but I have the double album set of the original Broadway cast of "Jesus Christ, Superstar." Now...don't go judging me. I know some may call this sacrilegious and I forgive you. This was one of my dad's prized possessions. This music stirs me.

As I ran, I thought. Thought about Jesus' resolve. The anguish in his cries to heaven. The loneliness from everyone he loved turning their backs on him...even his father. The suffering he endured..no way around it. I thought, what have I done to deserve his grace in my life? What have I done to warrant him taking my sin upon his back just so I could be free from its weight on mine? I know...nothing.

He does it, just because. My dad used to say that too. Why did you get that toy for me? Just because. Why did you take that extra side job? Just because. Why did you suffer through death? Just because. Just because, I love you.

My iPhone stopped tonight on "Mary's song" and it has a line that says.."I don't know how to love him." That is so true. Its hard for me to get my head around God's love. He does what he does just because he loves us. Just because.

Sleeping in

I over slept this morning...Oops.. I must have turned off the alarm by mistake. I have a clock that allows me to set two alarms; one for me, one for my wife. If the 5:00am wake up call chimed, I must have hit the "do not disturb" button. I did hear the 5:40am alarm, but by that time, it's to late to get my run in before the kids get up and the day takes off.

Maybe tonight I'll run... Probably not... I always tell myself, "Get up and run before everyone needs something." Usually in the evening when I get home, everyone needs something.

Is missing one day gonna kill me? No, its not. Does this give me permission to skip anytime I just don't feel like getting up? No, it does not.

I think I will just forgive myself for screwing up, learn from my mistake, and work towards not letting this happen again. Sound familiar.

I think Jesus is a runner.