Aimlessly against Time --- "Yup, gonna get old, and one day leave this earth."

Was able to speak to a guy's dorm at Northwestern College this last week during my week-long stay in Orange City.

Loved the sign Ryan (the RD) put up. 

There were about 20 of us.  We gathered around in a circle on fold-out chairs, drinking tea and eating garlic bread (a good combo for the stomach).   

My goal wasn't to speak at the guys and then leave, but more or less, have a conversation, directing and guiding the discussion.

I shared about the Awake My Sole trek, and then listened to them.  I loved the words shared, especially the honesty shared.  

Some shared about "the fear of not knowing what they were gonna do after college" and others shared about "the balance of responsibilities and fun."

One thing mentioned clung to my inner core: an idea shared of "How we spend our time."

How do you spend your time?

Is there purpose in it?  

Do you rest?  

Do you rest, with purpose?

Since the discussion, I've wrestled deeply with this idea.  It seems as if people get an idea or false illusion that we will live forever on this earth in our physical bodies.    

Some are confronted with the death of a loved one or friend, or see death on the news and are reminded of the finality of life.


I want my life, my short time here on earth to be something that was done well.

I don't want to waist my time.  


Do you?


Later in the week, I was able to visit some wonderful people over at the nursing home in Orange City.  I love listening to stories, and I love being around older people, cause I'm often reminded of where I am heading.  

Yup, gonna get old, and one day leave this earth.  

I don't mean to sound dark and grim, but when we realize we are all against time, it may spark a desire to live with more purpose and meaning.  Maybe we will come to a realization to not be wasting our time aimlessly.  

I'm not suggesting we don't REST, but when we do rest, to really rest, schedule it out, so it actually feels like rest.

May you begin to wrestle with this idea.  May you be challenged to begin thinking "am I aimlessly wasting my time?"  May you live well.  

What are your thoughts?  

Feel free to comment on this blog, or Email AwakeMySole@gmail.com

Running Recap from Monday - Orange City to Sanborn

Last week's Blog Post ::: "When your water freezes... you know it's cold"

A blog post from back in the day ::: "You are better than that"

Be inspired - Paul at the Gym

Every week Awake My Sole will share a story/thought/idea of others who have been inspired/challenged.  We would love to hear your story (it doesn't have to be related to running).

Here is a story from Paul.

Way cool story for you from the gym this morning. I was finishing my run and there was a lady next to me who was exclaiming how much she hated running. I thought nothing about it and continued my workout. As I was preparing to leave that same lady came up to me and told me that she hopes to be able to run as well as I do someday.She went on to say that I really looked like I enjoyed what I was doing. I then told her about how you challenged/encouraged me to just try and how that jump started me on my way to actually enjoy running....  Have a great day, Paul

EMAIL and SHARE your story/thought/idea at AwakeMySole@gmail.com

Running with purpose in every step...

Running Recap #4 - Sanborn

Start Time :  745am  End Time : 340pm

Weather : 52 degrees.  Winds blowing from the SW

Number of Dogs who barked and chased me:  7

Total Mileage : 33.7 miles

Overall, a wonderful sunny day for running.  Left my Orange City host home early this morning.  The weather was magnificent.

HERE are some pics from the run today

Gear all packed up and ready to go.  Charley is ready to hit the road

The unofficial, soon to be official, Orange City Running Club

leaving my awesome host family in Orange City.  

hitting the road

Barn Quilts ::: what is their purpose/meaning?

thought this was a rad mailbox

Hospers

All the pretty horses.  This pic is for Jodi.  

Ran through Archer Iowa.  It had a coffee shop and I really wanted to stop.  

Sanborn in the distance

Ran 3 miles on gravel

Some of my inspiration.  Noah, drew me a pic.  

Almost there

finally there.

I'm safe and sound at my Sanborn host home.  Body is feeling really good after running 33.7 miles.  Just got done eating all you can eat buffet at Pizza Ranch.  My body is gonna rest well tonight.

NEXT RUN will be next Monday.  I will be running from Sanborn to Spencer. 

Cool story from my run :  Was blessed greatly by the group of people who ran with me this morning.  Running with a group of people to start a long run makes the day start well.  Often times I run alone, however when others join, it makes my day.  I love being able to joke and shoot the breeze with others while running.  

Last week's running Recap 

Last week's end of week wrap up

last week's blog post

WHO is CHARLEY?  Click the pic for more info

Sioux City Journal Article about AMS

AMS end of week wrap up - Orange City Iowa

Wrap up video from the week

LIKE on facebook /// FOLLOW on twitter

Pics from the week

Goodbye Kingsley

Hello cold day

Carnes, Iowa

Finally in Orange City after 9 hours of running

Welcomed Warmly

Organ in Northwestern's Chapel.

Dutch pastry.  Yum

1 of 10 times I spoke throughout Orange City

the sign they hung up at NWC for the guys gathering

Early morning MyChoice program at the Alton middle School.

One of my staples.  

Wondering if anyone will buy a shirt like this.  let me know

Sun setting on NWC campus

Orange City moon and building

Good

Really dig this scripture

Some more students I got to speak to.  This is 1/4 of the group.

Running recap from Monday (30.1 miles)

Blog post from earlier this week ::: "When your water freezes... you know it's cold"

AMS for kids - Week 3 - Orange City

If you feel inclined to help support Jim as he treks across Iowa with Awake My Sole, please click the button below.  

AMS for kids - Week 3 - Orange City

This week I'm in Orange City Iowa.  Will be heading to Sanborn Iowa this coming Monday.

Last week's AMS for kids HERE 


If you have any questions for Jim, send them to AwakeMySole@gmail.com


Running with purpose in every step... Jim

When your water freezes... you know it's cold

Yesterday (Monday), I journeyed from Kingsley to Orange City Iowa.  (B to A)

All day, I fought a NW headwind of 20mph with a temperature of around 20 degrees.  Not sure what the "feels like" temperature was, but I'm guessing it was near zero.

I was cold.  Very cold.  Wore 4-5 layers on top, 5 layers on bottom, 4 layers on feet, 2 layers on hands, and snowboarding goggles with a face covering.

Me with all my layers rolling into Orange City Iowa.  

About an hour into my daylong 34.1 mile trek, my water froze.

On call was my emergency contact, but I couldn't get a hold of them when I called.  I wasn't terribly worried, however I was starting to think, I need to get some liquids soon.

I was running on county highway K64 and a vehicle drove by me.  It turned around, drove back and stopped right next to me.   An elderly man in his 70's or 80's asked me, "What are you doing?"

I said, "I'm running across the state of Iowa."

He said, "Do you realize how cold it is?"

My response, "Yes, I do.... you don't happen to live close by so I can get some water, 'cause mine is frozen."

He said, "Yup, I live close by, we can load your cart on the back of my truck, get you some water, and then get you back on the road."

He jumped out, grabbed a hold of my cart on one side, me on the other and we began to lift the cart.  We weren't anticipating the weight of the cart, and the cart tipped back, and all my belonging toppled off the cart.  My first aid kid and other stuff, burst open and started blowing away in the wind gusts.

I was flustered and bummed, also worried about my computer that was on the cart, and other precious things.

The man said, "So sorry, I was only trying to help, and now I've just made it worse."

I kept saying, "It's okay, not a big deal," but deep inside I felt I shouldn't have stopped and should have just kept moving, and waited till my emergency contact called.

After finally getting my stuff gathered from the topple, I found myself sitting in his warm passenger seat.   My emergency contact called me and said they were able to bring me water several miles down the road at Oyens.  I told the man I had someone bringing me water, and I would need a ride to that point.

He drove me to the intersection outside Oyens.


In traveling to the intersection, I was blessed greatly by the conversation I was able to have with him.

I asked him "What do you do?"

He said, "I'm a wood worker, I work with wood.  Will work with wood as long as I am able to."

I said, "That's awesome, have you always done that?"

He said, "Yup.  Own a wood shop and have always done this, I'm actually taking some wood to a high school in a nearby town for their woodworking class."


He then showed me a picture of his family, and I shared my pictures.


I was inspired by him.  It was evident that he loved woodworking and his family.  It was neat seeing him in his old-age still doing the thing he loves to do, maybe not as extensive as when he was a younger man, but was still connected to the thing he found meaning and purpose in.

When I left his vehicle, he gave me his number and said, "Give me a call tonight so I don't stay up worrying about you."

I shook his hand, and said, "I really enjoyed our conversation, and enjoyed meeting you on the road today."


My trek across Iowa isn't about me running across Iowa, but more about hearing and sharing stories about other people who have discovered what they love to do, and are actually doing it.

Until next time...

Running with purpose in every step,

Jim

Running Recap from Monday - Kingsley to Orange City

Last week's Blog Post ::: "A New Path"

A blog post from way back when ::: "I run because I love to run"

Running Recap #3 - Orange City

Start Time :  810am  End Time : 445pm

Weather : 20 degrees (Not sure what windchill was).  20 mph winds from North-West.

Number of Dogs who barked and chased me:  1 (Most dogs were inside)

Total Mileage : 30.1 miles

Overall, a chilly-windy day for running.  Left my Kingsley host home early this morning.  Ran in wind all day.  It was tough and gruesome.  About an hour into my run all my liquids were frozen.

HERE are some pics from the run today

4 miles into my run and my powerade was already slushy

getting ready to head west for a couple miles.  

cold

on K64

Iowa landscape, AKA cold terrain 

stop at Carnes (Cheryl brought me some hot tea, it was grand)

Water Bottle Mark brought me, already starting to freeze only an hour into running with it.

Hot Tea

Mark joined me for some miles.  Here is a pic of Mark jogging with the stroller.  

Arriving in Orange City.  A good good feeling.

at my host home.  signs and all.  so good to be here. 

I'm safe and sound at my Orange City host home.  My body is feeling great after running 30.1 miles.  Just got done eating some amazing lasagna, gonna head to bed soon.

NEXT RUN will be next Monday.  I will be running from Orange City to Sanborn. 

Cool story from my run :  Like I mentioned earlier, my liquids froze.  I tried calling my emergency contact for the day, but couldn't get a hold of them.  I was a bit worried until a nice elderly gentlemen helped me out.  He stopped me, and I asked him for water, or if he lived close by so I could get some water.  He said he lived near by, so we attempted to load my cart in his truck.  In loading my cart it tipped over.  At first I was a bit bummed, and wished I wouldn't have stopped.  However, he gave me a 4-mile lift to where I was going to meet some friends who had some water for me.  I was blessed greatly during my 4 mile riding with him.  Will be blogging about my encounter with him tomorrow.

Last week's running Recap 

Last week's end of week wrap up

last week's blog post