life is like...

i had the awesome opportunity to take my beautiful orange bike all over the city this weekend following the runners participating in the marathon. 26.2 miles of running on city streets has got to take a toll on anyones body. i was able to stand along a cheer, encourage, scream, and i even rub some lady's calf who cramped up right in front of me. at that point i realized that life is like a marathon....

in the marathon of life we run and run. sometimes we even walk or stumble and some even quit. we run through the challenges, the hills, the rough patches in the road, through the crowds. on this run of life we see many things. we see the course ahead and when i was a freshman in college i think it was the first time i felt overwhelmed and thought that part of my life would never end. now i am just starting my first month of a being in the real world and i feel as if retirement will never come. not only have i looked at the course but i remember the people around. the ones on the sidelines. the encouragers, the discouragers, or the ones who just watch. i can remember some of the encouragers on my life. mr. fuller is the first one who comes to mind. my friend adam. jan and houston. kristin. my parents. ron and dave. the list goes on and on. i also look back in the distance and see the discouragers. the ones who questioned my passions. the ones who thought the only way i could serve was in the church. the ones who said a loud mouth ADD kid would never make it. i also see the ones who never said anything, the ones who stand and stare or offer nothing. the race of life is tough. theres lots of hills and valleys, the times where the streets are lined with screaming fans. the times where the course is vacant and you swear you are all alone. i love this race. i would never ever take back anything.... overall my course as been gold paved streets. i am priviledged to be raised by amazing parents who gave all for their kids. i now have a college degree that so many people in this country and world would die to have. i have a job which are few and far between in our present time and i have the ultimate gift... the opportunity to impact others. the chance to help cheer on another. to rub out the "cramps" of life. to encourage the people who are right around the corner but cant quite see the finish line. what a great opportunity! and i plan to take advantage of it everyday!

as i watched the race yesterday i got chills and even teared up thinking about all the time and passion these people had put into this and i couldnt help but be so proud of everyone of the races. even the ones who didnt finish. i felt so good as i stood at the 26 mile marker and i would see someone walking and looking abosolutely spent and i had a part in to encouraging them to finish strong and then they would start to run again. that made me feel great and to think that i meet so many people who are walking, crawling or even planning to sit down and on the race of life and i am able to encourage them, give them hope, and see them start to walk again or sometimes even jog. what a life! i love it!

keep running....