The Red Letter Festival ---This Saturday in Sioux Center Iowa

This Saturday is the 6th-annual Red Letter Festival in Sioux Center Iowa.

I would highly encourage all who are in the Northwest Iowa area to attend.  It is a community initiated festival to raise money and awareness against domestic violence, poverty and homelessness.  All the proceeds go to The Bridge, a transitional house for women and kids going through tough life circumstances.

Honestly, I'm a bit bummed, because this year's festival will be the first time I haven't been able to help out (Due to running across the state of Iowa with Awake My Sole).  However, it is good to see new people step up to take on new roles.

It was in May of 2007 when the first Red Letter Festival happened.  It was originally scheduled to be outdoors, but it rained all day so it was moved indoors.  I know this first hand, cause I got to run 32-miles in the rain.

I'm blogging about this, because this day played a huge role in my life.  It was the first time I connected my love for "running long distance" with something more than exercise or self gratification, but with something that mattered.

It was where I connected my passion of running with meaningful-life-changing-work.  

Here is a video about the RLF run in 2007:

  

What makes the Red Letter Festival a wonderful event, is people using their "time, energy & talents" to impact the world for better.

I just happened to like running.

People who like music should use music to impact the world for good.
People who like to bake should use baking to impact the world for good.
People who like to sing should use singing to impact the world for good.
People who like ______________ should use _________________ to impact the world for good.

For me, this first Red Letter Festival changed my life.  It made me begin using my gifts & passions for something more meaningful.  As a follower of Christ, I call it "kingdom building work," some may also know it as "making the world a better place."

In 2008, instead of running 32 miles, I got to run 62 miles.  The furthest I had ever run in my entire life.  Here are some pics of running that day.  Its fun to look back on it: I remember the day well, I was about 15 miles from finishing, wanting to quit, and all my friends showed up in goofy outfits.  Talk about motivation.  In fact, the sun had set, we were running into Orange City, we got pulled over by cops, and they said "We had to stop running."

After running 62 miles, I was exhausted.  Never again did I want to run such a long distance.

I went in to work the following Monday, I was walking like a penguin, cause I was so sore, and a lady named Kris asked me, "Why are you walking so goofy?"

I said, "I ran 62 miles this Saturday for a transitional house for women and kids in Orange City."

She asked, "How many days did it take you?"

I said, "One day."

She said, "Oh really?  Well, how many people were in your relay?"

I said, "Well, I ran the whole thing, but several people joined me for different legs during the day."

She said, "That's impossible!"

I said, "No its not, that why I'm walking like a penguin."

She said, "Jim, it's obvious you like to run long distance, and you care about people.  I could see you using these gifts, like maybe you could run across the United States speaking to students."

I remember telling her, "That's a great idea!"  but in my brain I remember thinking, "That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

Anywho, thanks to the 2nd Red Letter Festival, a dream and journey for my life was established.  Kind of fun to look back on it, especially since I'm actually running across the state of Iowa for the year.

In 2009, here is the RLF promo video created by Steve and Betsy using their sweet video-making abilities.  

Here is a video from the last couple miles of the 2009 RLF with everyone running.

In 2010, here is a pic of Brock and I getting pulled over early in the morning:

We got pulled over by this guy.  We were pulled over by him the two previous years.

In 2011, we changed the location of the RLF to The Fruited Plain Cafe in Sioux Center.  So, instead of a 62-mile run, we had a 55-mile run.

New location of the RLF

We started the run in Sioux City at 5 in the morning.  

One of the groups from the RLF run

Finishing in Sioux Center

The Red Letter Festival is happening again this Saturday in Sioux Center Iowa.  I would encourage all to check it out.  Maybe think of a way you can use "Your talents, your energy & your time" towards something that impacts your community for good.

If there is something like the RLF in your own community, awesome!!!  Join it, share your talents, energy & time.

If there is not something like the RLF in your own community... Start one!!!  Get some people, pick who you want to help, and just go for it.  Never in a million years did the original RLF crew think the RLF would still be happening, they just saw a "need to be met" in their own community, and they decided to try and "meet that need."

HERE is some additional Info about the upcoming 6th-annual Red Letter Festival