An Unexpected Journey --- What would BILBO do? GO or STAY ???

The Hobbit, the newest installment from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings franchise has this tag line:

"An Unexpected Journey."

It is a fictional story filled with mythical creatures.  The main protagonist is Bilbo, the Hobbit.  Hobbits are comfortable creatures, who enjoy the simple pleasures and comforts of life: smoking a pipe, reading books and eating good food.

Hobbits are not ones for exploring or discovery.

But in this story, Bilbo finds himself on an unexpected journey with a bunch of dwarfs.  At first he is against going on the journey Gandalf wishes for him to be on, but there is a turning point where the excitement of risk and unknown wells up in this Hobbit and he joins the crew.

“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Our lives are unexpected journeys.  Even amidst the so-called mundane and routines of life.

Sometimes we are called on an adventure, perhaps to follow and pursue a dream, like starting a bakery or writing a book... little unexpected journeys.

The crazy thing is, we have a choice while at the same time we don't have a choice.  We never know what the other choice would have been.  We can always say things like, "I wonder what would have happened?"

With anything in life, we are confronted with this option, do we GO or do we STAY?

If we GO, it may not be easy, perhaps scary or risky, full of fearful moments.  We may miss the comforts of our life.  Freeing and liberating with nothing holding us back.

If we STAY, it may be simple and routine, and we can come home each night.  To some it may seem oppressive because of the stability.

Our life is full of unexpected moments.  In fact, every moment can be an unexpected moment of "Going" or "Staying."

It's not whether we GO or STAY, more or less, but rather why we are "going" or "staying?"

Why do we GO on journeys of adventure, or STAY put in the comforts of every day life?

Do people who GO on journeys lead more "fulfilling" and "meaningful" lives in comparison to those who STAY?

I'm in the middle of a book called "Brother Lawrence, practicing the presence of God," and he is a monk who cooked meals and did routine tasks filled with great love.  His whole practice of life was to be continually aware of the presence of the Creator, in every task.  In the tasks of "Going" and of "Staying."

"I wish you could convince yourself that GOD is often (in some sense) nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health."  Brother Lawrence

What if we really believed that God is near us on this unexpected journey of life?  We GO when we feel called to go; we STAY when we feel called to stay.  

What if the Creator of the Universe, the One who knows the deepest truths, who loves us so deeply and intimately, is truly alongside of us, giving us direction and hope?  Not walking the steps for us, but whispering in the silence little hints for us to follow, all while longing for our love and affections, only things we can offer when we are aware.  

Any unexpected journey we go on, if we are truly trying to follow God, our hearts will be aligned, so really no matter what we do, whether it is run across the state of Iowa, work in a cubicle, go on an unexpected journey, or stay put and wash dishes, we can find the meaning, purpose and joy out of a love for the Creator.

Silent Space

From the Book Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals 

Sometimes it is hard to find silent spaces to 'Be Still' and to 'Listen.'

We may feel like our lives are cluttered in a sea of busyness. 

When I take time to 'Be Still,' which ironically involves running a long distance without my headphones plugged-in, I am reminded of Who I am, What I'm doing and Where I'm going.

What does 'Being Still' look like for you?

Have you taken any time recently to be reminded of Who you are, What you're doing with your life and Where you're going?  

May we seek out some 'silent space' as we seek the Creator's calling and leading in our life...

1339 Miles & 317 Speaking Spots Later

Yesterday afternoon, I arrived back to Sioux City: both the starting and ending point of this yearlong journey.

343 days ago.  Start of the AMS journey in Sioux City City.  

343 days have passed.  The equivalent of 8,232 hours, 493,920 minutes or 29,635,200 seconds.
What

Speaking to youth in Ames Iowa.  1 of 311 speaking spots during the year.

Many miles covered by foot and many words spoken by mouth.

Running to Orange City in January 2011 in a blizzard. 1 of 40 long running days during the year.

I am overwhelmed as I attempt reflection on the past year of my life.

Where do I begin?  

How does one share with others the journey they have been on?  

It's as if I'm experiencing culture shock.

Over the next few months I hope to spend time reflecting and sharing my thoughts from the road:

• What I learned
• How I changed, and how I remained the same
• Who I met
• Why I did what I did
• Where I went and what I discovered

Some of the people on the journey

Ten Days

Ten days, the running portion of the Awake My Sole journey will be coming to an end.  A routine of running, speaking, resting, meeting new people and discovering Iowa towns will come to an end.

Yes, a bittersweet feeling:  a feeling of achievement and accomplishment in finishing this yearlong journey across the state of Iowa, while at the same time a sadness and mourning in thinking the end of this journey is near.

A reminder while running to each Iowa town

Honestly, I always dreamt the journey would come to an end, but never actually thought I would be here.  At the beginning, a year seemed like such a long period of time, but with less than two weeks till the finish, it seems like such a short period of time.

So much has happened and yet so much has remained the same.

Time moves forward, and I am looking forward to what's next, especially with the Awake My Sole journey.  Already in the process of thinking and praying for what's to come.  Maybe someone else will take on the AMS journey across the state, or perhaps a relay, or writing a book of the journey, or perhaps a speaking tour across the state with other motivational speakers.

Who knows?

I do know that finishing this journey well is equally as important as when I started, as well as the planning stage, and for whatever comes next.

Many people have asked, "Do you still enjoy running and speaking?"

My answer, "Yes, I do."

Some days on the journey were really tough, and some weeks of speaking were overwhelming, but at the same time there were some days that were excellent and I felt the "runner's high" as I ran to the next town, or connecting well with the group of people I got to speak to.

Overall, this journey has been a story of risk.  In the risky and unknown having to truly rely on the Creator and others for my needs to be met, while at the same time planning and preparing in a way that brings a joy and meaningfulness.

My story is not your story, my journey is not your journey, but we are both writing a story with our life.

Ten days, the Awake My Sole journey comes to an end, however it's not THE END, but truly the beginning.  The beginning of what?  Not sure, but preparing and planning for whatever does come, while at the same time enjoying the moment.

Ten days.  Yesterday it was Eleven, tomorrow it will be Nine, together, whatever journey we may be on, let's live in a way in which each day of the journey we live well.  Some days wont be the best, and some days will be super rad; allow us to embrace them, because the bigger picture is a healthy balance of both.

Ten days....

Thankfulness --- Essential and Meaningful

thank·ful

   [thangk-fuhl]  Show IPA

adjective

feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

Two Monday ago, en route to Spencer Iowa by foot, I was overwhelmed with an attitude of Thankfulness.  Don't know what came over me.  Maybe running 5 marathons in 4 weeks was getting to my head.

Leaving Sanborn to Spencer.  Everything was frosted white.  So very thankful for the beauty of Iowa.  

This attitude of thankfulness was unusual, freeing and joyous.

Running with friends.  Leaving Orange City to Sanborn.  Thankful for the support of  friends.

I was thankful, and I began naming all the things I was thankful for.  The big things in life.  The small things.  Everything I could think of, I found myself saying I am Thankful for that.

Here are a very few of the things I am thankful for  

(I could do this all day)

I am thankful for friends, family, and loved ones.  

I am thankful for people I don't know, strangers and others.  Poor, wealthy, middle class people.  All people I am thankful for.  

I am thankful for music, for the way it guides my steps when I run, and for the people who create it.  

I am thankful to the Creator who allows humans to create, uniquely fashions each person, not one the same.  

I am thankful for technology and the way it allows me to connect with people.  

I am thankful for the ground beneath my feet as I run, for it's sturdiness.  

I am thankful for the trees that produce oxygen for me to breathe.  I am thankful for breath.  

I am thankful for the sun shining, for the way God works through people.  

I am thankful for the good days, and yes, even the bad days, or the days that may seem useless and aimless.  

I am thankful when I have much and when I have little.  

I am thankful for ingenuity.  

I am thankful for the clothes I am wearing, and the host homes I am staying in.  

I am thankful for the love of Jesus and how that directs my life, every part of it.  

I am thankful for those who believe differently than me, or think differently than me.  

I am thankful for my toes and my fingers.  I am thankful for running and speaking and abilities I have yet to discover.  

I am thankful for food and the way it helps sustain my body.

I am thankful for each town I've visited, each with unique differences and similarities.  

I am thankful for the state of Iowa.

I am thankful for my socks for keeping my feet warm and dry, and for the person who gave me the socks.  

I am thankful for snow, for bitter Iowa winters.  I am thankful for no snow, for warm Iowa winters.   

Like I said, after a while, I was filled with joy and wonder at all the little and big things I was thankful for.  It made each step during my run seem lighter and more freeing.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  A lot.  Just being alive and breathing is something to be thankful for.  For those reading this blog, being able to read, and use a computer, how awesome is that?

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

My challenge to you: 

Take 10 minutes (or more).  Grab a pen and paper.  Write down everything you are thankful for.  Everything you can imagine or think.  You will be surprised, overwhelmed and gain a new perspective.  

Running to Spencer, one of the Sanborn families put up this sign.  I was super thankful for it.  It made my day.  

A friend brought me warm tea.  Was running from Kingsley to Orange City and it was cold, 20 mph head winds and my water froze.  Very thankful in this moment.  

My lunch during a long running day.  PowerAde, Cliff Bar and Water.  Thankful for it.  All of it.

A drawing from Noah.  So very thankful for it.  Used it as motivation while running from Orange City to Sanborn.  

"Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."  

1 Thessalonians 5

Running Recap from two Mondays ago - Sanborn to Spencer

Last week's Blog Post ::: "Aimlessly Against Time"

A blog post from back in the day ::: "5 Things I'm going to miss"

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T SHIRTS