Time On The Road……….by Donnie

Geese certainly know how to social distance, I wish some people would pick up that skill.   We are on day three of the mandatory 30 day ‘stay at home’ order.  I am so thankful I can go on long walks, almost 17 miles today.  A couple of more days of long walks, then Sunday I plan to get my running back in order.  I want to be more than ready when sanctioned road races begin again.   Not sure how they would work it, maybe small waves like they do in larger races, something. And hopefully soon, I need my adrenaline going again.

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

I love trains, I think I always have.  It is always enjoyable for me to walk near the tracks, especially when a train is coming past, then  I can’t help but think of the song by Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison Blues.   Our current situation is hardly on the scale of being in prison, I can go most anywhere I ‘need’ to go, just maybe not everywhere I ‘want’ to go.  Which is OK, I can’t afford to go to a lot of places I want to go anyway, at least not the unlimited shopping spree at Scheels I want to do.  And, I am free to go on my daily runs and walks, so it is all good.

  One of my favorite Christian hymns, always can bring comfort in trying times.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Today begins Day 1 of 30 days of a mandatory “stay at home” order mandated by most all of the major counties in the Kansas City metro area which is much like many parts of the USA. We are hoping and praying for health officials try to figure out how to conquer the COVID-19 pandemic.  I have decided to each day, to log at least 10 miles either running or walking. Today I walked 10.3  miles.

I know this social distancing thing is necessary, but we as humans, for most of us anyway, it is not natural to avoid people you see on the street, or in the grocery store.  Unless of course you live in New York City, then this social distancing thing “is” natural for you. (just kidding)  In all seriousness, I look forward to a day, hopefully soon, where we won’t feel it is necessary to walk 10 steps out of our way avoiding another human being. It just isn’t natural.  I look forward to going back to my church, and worshiping with my brothers and sisters in Christ, in person.

Hopefully, prayerfully, very soon, we won’t see signs on businesses like the one at the door where I work.

Today was my last day of work before my county is under a 30 day ‘stay at home’ order. I plan to log each day, for the next 30 days my thoughts, and hopefully some inspiration to handle these trying times as God wishes. Thankfully the order does not prohibit me from going on long walks and runs, which I plan to do daily, to the tune of 10-20 miles each day. Hopefully my runs will be at least 5-10 miles a day, with a half (marathon) thrown in here and there.

This was not what I envisioned when I thought of a month off of work, paid. I am in a landlocked state.  Parts of the area I live in are beautiful to be sure, but come on.  If I am gonna be under a 30 day ‘ stay at home’ order, let it be in Galveston Beach, or Corpus Christi TX.  Hawaii would be alright, observing social distancing of course.  Not like those idiots in Florida and California.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

~Phillipians 4:13

When someone says they are a Christian, the next word out of their mouth should never be ‘BUT’. Sadly, some people will sometimes say something like, “sure I’m a Christian, BUT I’m not one of THOSE kind of Christians”, or “BUT I’m not judgmental”, or “BUT I keep it to myself, I don’t force my religion on people” My question to them would be, “what is one of THOSE kind of Christians?” “Why would you want to keep it to yourself?” The word ‘BUT’ should never be in the same sentence with claiming Christ. I would prefer the word ‘because’. Because I am a Christian, I value the sanctity of the unborn. Because I am a Christian, I value traditional marriage, one man, one woman. Because I am a Christian, I know that the only way to Heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ, and Him alone. (John 14:6, John 3:16) Because I am a Christian, I love God because He first loved me. (I John 4:19) Because I am a Christian, I can face tomorrow. Because I am a Christian, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) If you’re going to use the word ‘BUT’ in your proclamation of Christ, let it be, “yes, I am a Christian, BUT, let me ask you something, are you? Let me show you how you can know Christ too.”

Sometimes there are “wow” moments in life, then sometimes there are “WOW” moments.  On Wednesday October 2, 2019, in a courtroom in Dallas TX, there was one of those “WOWS”.  Christians are always happy when we see an event that points the lost to Christ, to Christ ALONE to save them from hell.  There are wonderful pastors and ministers who, as Godly and learned as they may be, may never, ever, have such a large audience, and express so sincerely and as beautifully the love of Christ and forgiveness as did Brandt Jean on this day.

In September of last year, something tragic happened.  Probably most people with an opinion don’t know why the events happened, but on that day, former police officer Amber Guyger entered the apartment of Botham Jean (Brandt’s older brother), and shot and killed him, claiming she thought she was in her own apartment and he was an intruder.  Whatever her state of mind and motives truly were, most people beside her and God may only know.  The facts are, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  Shortly after, is when the “WOW” happened.

Revenge, justice and grace came to a standoff, and grace won, big time.   While chants outside the courtroom were furious that she only received 10 years (revenge), inside the courtroom, Mr. Jean addressed Ms. Guyger. He told her he forgave her, that he loves her, and he wishes nothing bad on her, and..that he wished she didn’t have to go jail at all. (GRACE)  He told her God loves her too, and if she accepts Christ as her Savior, He will forgive her. (ULTIMATE GRACE)  With the permission of the judge, he hugged Amber, several times, she went back for several hugs it appeared.  She needed someone to love her, and he was showing her the love of Christ.  Let’s not forget Judge Kemp.  She too embraced Amber, handed her a Bible, told her to read it, then was heard telling her. “Ma’am, it’s not because I am good. It’s because I believe in Christ. None of us are worthy…..  “Forgive yourself.” (JUSTICE, with love and, GRACE)

What satan meant for pure evil out of his filthy pit in hell, God threw it back in his face, and the love of Christ was shown to the world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if this act of love shown to Amber, she accepts Christ (if she hasn’t yet) and uses the love she was shown, to bring the inmates she will meet, to a saving faith in Christ.  God works like that you know, remember the apostle Paul, he once killed Christians, until one moment in time he changed forever.  I pray Amber will know Him, and bring many to Him by her example..

IN CHRIST ALONE

Another race on the books for me, a nice four miler. This was a more enjoyable race for me than several others this race season.  Almost 2,000 other people were there as well for Run For The Tree Kangaroos, next year it will be Run For The Three Toed Sloth.  Everything seemed to have fallen into place in a perfect manner.  The course layout, the logistics, the photography, the volunteers, all top notch.  There are some local race organizers and timing company’s that should take some ques from the Kansas City Zoo Run team.  In my humble opinion, some races I have run this race season were poorly managed and planned.  Not so with this race.

The race began near Starlight Theater and winds through the Kansas City Zoo and out near the parking area.  A nice bonus, runners got free admission back into the zoo with their bib number.  The zoo and Starlight sit in Swope Park in Kansas City, not exactly the safest area to be at night.  Starlight during the summer host outdoor Broadway plays, and concerts.  The Kansas City Zoo is a decent zoo, they have some fun animals to visit, lions, tigers and a polar bear named Berlin are among my favorites.  Politically the zoo and I probably don’t agree on much. They seem to harp too much on man caused global warming/climate change/climate science, or whatever term is being used now to push the agenda of the far left for more government control and regulation, and to help make some of the procrastinators rich on their version of science.  Wow, did I go off the rails for a second or what?……  But I can go to the zoo and ignore them telling me how naughty I am if I don’t use a super energy light bulb or public transportation. 

They mentioned it was a fast course, and it was.  I recorded my best time yet for a zoo run. This was my third time to run the zoo run, and it was my second best time ever for a four mile race, I’ve run six to date.  I really only got winded once, stopped for a couple of seconds, then was good to go.  I guess stopping for a second, I violated my new race motto.  You’ve heard the old saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”, well my new race motto is, “I’ll breathe when I cross the finish line!” 

I am a runner.  As of September 2019, I have run 32 races. I’ve run 5K’s, 10K’s, 4 milers, and half marathons.  Not once have I ever paid to run a “virtual” race.  I don’t get the purpose or the appeal.  Organized races are not free, sometimes they can be kind of expensive.  Usually these races are raising funds for a worthwhile cause, so it is not like someone is getting rich off of the fees. But when I pay to run in a race, I want to actually run the race on race day.  I want the thrill of running with other people. I want to outrun as many people as I can, and to try and beat my PR (personal record).

From what I understand about a virtual race, a participant pays the fee, (which could be more than the regular registration fee), then they can run the distance, where they choose to, and at their leisure.  Where is the sport in that?  There is no official time kept.  No official distance measured. No photos to remember race day with, no thrill of crossing the finish line.  Even if the virtual runner were to beat one of the top finishers official times, it means nothing.  It isn’t official.  Plus, apparently the virtual runner receives shirt and other swag, maybe a finishers medal if they were given.  Finisher’s medal. That’s a whole different issue that I have mixed feelings over.  But, another day, another blog on that one.

My point is simple.  When you run a virtual race, you are basically paying someone for you to run when you feel like it.  That is actually something I do for free, all the time.  If I am not running in an organized race,  I run at my leisure, or when I can,  several times a week.  I won’t  pay for that.  I don’t see why anyone would.

Today was the fourth time I have run the Turkey Creek Festival 5K in Merriam KS.  I have run this race more times then any other race I’ve run.  I have now run 27 different races including 5K’s, 10K’s, 4 milers and half-marathons.  This was the fourth race for me this year, it would have been my fifth, but I had to withdraw from a race earlier this month (Tower to Tower, which I wanted to run again, I ran it last year) a few minutes before gun time, due to illness.   Thunderstorms were predicted for today, but thankfully, it held off until after the race.

This time around, I recorded my 2nd best time of the four times I’ve run it.  Ironically though, even though this wasn’t my best time for this race, I placed third in my age bracket, a nice surprise for me when they called my name during the presentations.

Sadly, for the first time, I witnessed an older runner have some type of health issue that required EMT’s to attend to him.  Something you never want to see, anytime really, but especially at a race where people are there to have a good time.  My prayers are with him and his family.

Also sadly, for the first time, I witnessed something, to me was shocking, considering where we were, and why people were there.  Here I am standing around in the spectators and finishers plaza, watching other racers finish, and I get this foul stench in the air.  I turn around, and see an older man, SMOKING.. This is a family friendly atmosphere, and supposed to be a healthy atmosphere, you know, running and such, and here is someone polluting the air with hundreds of people around.  What’s worse, it appeared he was wearing a volunteers shirt, either for the race, or the festival a few miles away.  If someone chooses to smoke, that’s their business, but where he chose to smoke, to me was plain rude.  He should have either chosen his car, or walked to an area where no one was close by.