Is your journey worth your life?

I feel like Skydiving is a cheap thrill, especially if it involves skydiving with cars.

A temporary experience of fulfillment.  Excitement and danger converge and well up within us a sense of being "fully alive."

Similar to many commercials on TV.  

A couple weeks ago I was sitting and watching TV.  There was a commercial about a girl who got a new pair of jeans, and instantly she was happy.  She started dancing like a fully alive person.  She danced on chairs and you could tell she was happy.

"If only I get those jeans, an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement will well up out of me and I'll burst apart, right?"

We are seeking things that don't fulfill and amidst this realization we still intensely seek after them.

A band named "The Lighthouse and the Whaler" have a song called "Burst Apart."

A lyrics from this song:

"The journey is worth your life..."

Since first hearing this song, this lyric has mulled around in my head.  I can't stop thinking about how essential finding a "journey worth your life" is.  Especially to finding fulfillment, meaning and purpose.

It would be disappointing if becoming "fully alive" was as easy as purchasing jeans or skydiving in some remote village.

Our journeys must be better than that.  We must be willing to give our lives to them.

What journey is worth our life?

Our life is one of our most precious gifts.

What if our ultimate purpose and meaning can be found amidst an orchestrated story with a Creator?  Where we realize, our story, our life is but a small piece of a grand scheme.

What if our life, our meaning, our story is more than ourselves, but rather about something bigger?    

The Awake My Sole journey was based out of striving after Jesus.  It's crazy to think the running & speaking portion of the yearlong journey is finished, however the journey overall journey has only begun.

Whether you are an "extreme-thrill-seeking-sports-athlete" jumping out of planes or a business woman with a routine job, you can fully be alive amidst striving after something bigger.

Ultimately I know my life is not my own, but God's, and I attempt daily to be aware of the journey I am on.

Is the journey you are on worth your life?

AMS end of week wrap Up - SIOUX CITY

So far the first week of Awake My Sole has been great.  Here is a little wrap up video.  Will be doing these every week.  Also, there are some pics from the week below.

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Random pics from the week

the amount of ketchup you need to eat 5-guys FRIES

Special blend of Awake My Sole Coffee.  Roasted by Jumpy Monkey Coffee.  A great coffee company.

Video shoot for Awake My Sole with KCAU channel 9

David and Rebekah threw a surprise party for me.  One of the coolest things ever.

My good buddy Steve

My good buddy Luke, bringing me a pound and a half of potato chips

Sioux City sunset

My new APP on my i-phone that allows me to check my Resting Heart Rate.  the app is called HEART FITNESS

My cart ready to go.

Last pic before I hit the road

stopped by Peak Performance in Sioux City

First speaking engagement.  Elevate.  Sunnybrook Comunity Church's college group.  Spoke on Running with endurance.

Wearing Fresh Gear Socks!!!  Thanks Jay Faber

Spoke to a Geography Class.  

What is a runner's favorite subject?  JOG-raphy

Spoke at my old stomping grounds, Sunnybrook's middle school program, JAM.

Decked out in Awake My Sole Gear.  Alisha knit the hat, Mark printed the shirts.  Way cool!

A plaque given to me.  Weighs 20 pounds.  Still debating whether I take this on the road with me or not.  I'm thinking I am going to store it in Sioux City.

FCA in Sergeant Bluff

Christian School in Sioux City

My setup at the Art Center.

Running on Friday in the negative one degree weather.

"one step at a time"

Running Recap from from Monday (17 mile run)

Blog post from earlier this week :::  "5 things I'm gonna miss" 

Also, there is a video created each Wednesday for Kids

Running with purpose in every step...

Also if you feel inclined to support Jim financially

Running Day Recap #1 - Sioux City

Today was the first official AMS running day.

Start Time: 11am-ish.  Will normally start much earlier, but had to finish some things before I hit the road.

Weather:  High of 52 degrees.  Couldn't ask for better weather in the middle of an Iowa winter.

First pic of the AMS journey.  Jim setting off.  

Stopped by Peak Performance.  Great place for runners.  

Yes. Yes. Yes.  

Ran to the Sioux City Explorers stadium.

Stopped by the Multi Care Physician Group.  The last 5 months I have been going here to get chiropractic check ups.  

Ran into Steve at Quiznos.  Steve is one of the awesome physicians at Multi Care.  Awesome dude. 

My buddy Mark, grabbing some lunch with me at Quiznos.  He then ran 3.5 miles with me, with an additional 3.5 miles after.  He is awesome. 

This pic I took for Joe.  And because Mark had to use their facilities.  If you know what I mean.

Huge fan of the Community Action Agency.  They do some great things in the Sioux City community.  

Ran over the bridge.  Had to take a pic of Charley by the Kay Dee station.  Yes, that is an actual cow in the pic.  

Had to stop at the Post Office to send some AMS items to the winners of SHARE AMS.  This pic is for Eddie. 

the Sioux City post workers were awesome.

Sioux City Art Center.  Will be speaking here on Thursday evening at 7pm.  

Sioux City Public Museum.  This place is rad.  Brand new facility with some really cool stuff about Sioux City.

the plaque outside the Museum.  Love the quote "May the stories of our past inspire the leaders of tomorrow."

Dropped off a couple of AMS t-shirts to SAM and DAVE.  They were winners of the SHARE AMS.  The t-shirts were made by Mark: hand screen printed.  

A good way to finish the day.  Jerry's Pizza.

Total miles covered today:  17 miles

Cool story from the run:  I was at the Post Office.  A lady came up to me, gave me 10 bucks and said, "My daughter loves to run too."  It seriously made my day.  As I was leaving the Post Office, there was a guy named Richard who looked like he could use a warm meal, so I gave him the 10 bucks.  It made his evening.  Plus we got to chat for a bit.

Schedule for the week:  Will be speaking 8 times this week, beginning tomorrow evening.

Next Long Run:  Next Monday.  Sioux City to Kingsley.  28 miles.


Running with purpose in every step,

Jim

Wondering who is traveling with me?  Read this blog post

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Inclined to financially support Jim as he runs across Iowa?