Category: running

Worship through nature

Meridith1 Comment

I’ve been studying Church History for the past few weeks, and digging deeper into the Church Fathers’ ideas about worship.  Part of what has really intrigued me is the idea that things such as Baptism and the Eucharist were mediums through which God could (and can) be experienced.  Worship not of water, food, or nature, but experiencing God through these things.  Sometimes as evangelical Christians we are afraid to experience this, because we don’t want it to appear that we are actually worshipping the sky, or trees, or that the experience of being baptized in water that we worship the act of baptism.

Note: I’m not writing this blog to spark up a theological debate… just FYI.

Anyway, I LOVE Fall.  There is something so magical and mysterious about the changing of seasons anyway, and that combined with the nights growing cooler, the rain coming back, and harvest, it just captures me.  The other day, it was overcast and rainy, and all I could do was sit in my room and stare outside, because it was so beautiful.  Fall is one of the things I missed when I was in Thailand, and last year, to experience Fall again was one of the greatest gifts.

The next few months are my favorite of the year.  Watching football (High school football… I seriously could care less about watching college or pro… sorry), drinking Starbucks, reading, warm socks, playing outside… I love it all.

Anyway, some of my favorite hymns to sing just remind me of harvest and fall time, in fact, they are hard for me to sing any other time of the year…. two I can think of right now are “All Creatures of Our God and King”, and “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation”.  Both are rich in imagery about creation, and seeing God in creation.  Creation being a medium through which we can experience and worship God.

The text of these songs is beautiful, but the music that accompanies is also stunning.  God has created this world, his finger-prints are all around us, yet we complain about the weather, and often times don’t stop to notice the small things.  Seems crazy, but somehow running has taught me to notice those small things.  Last Saturday, I ran 20 miles in mist, rain, and some fog, but it was incredible.  When I left for my run it was eerie, but so beautiful at the same time, looking out on a sleepy world, and getting completely drenched as I ran for 3 and a half hours.  Yes.  It’s true.  (That experience is a blog in and of itself!).

The Psalms are full of examples of seeing God in creation, and worshiping HIM.. not the creation of course.  This concept is very biblical… here are a few verses… Psalm 24:1-2, “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon rivers.”  Psalm 19:1, “The havens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork…”.  The book of Job also is full of the worship of God in creation, and the acknowledgment that God is in control of the elements, in chapters 38 and forward, God lists out the ways he’s involved in all creation, and that creation is at his command.  Personally, I think as a culture and society, we’re pulled away from the connection of God and creation because we are not as aware (and dependent) on farming, and harvest.  Instead many live off processed and packaged food and don’t see the necessity (or value) or fresh, farmed food.  In the Bible, we can see the dependence people had on God blessing the harvest, and being in control of the weather, simply because people were dependent on the land producing food…to live!!  It was their livelihood (this is another blog, research paper, or doctoral thesis…).

Anyway.  Read the words of this hymn.  Let it sink in.  It’s so beautiful.  And of course listen to David Crowder’s version of it… it’s amazing.  We’re doing this on Sunday… with my friend Leila playing fiddle… it’s going to be amazing, like the unfolding of a letter… word by word, sentence by sentence.  Unfolding beauty and grace all in one.

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him!  Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh, praise Him!  Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along
Oh, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
Oh, praise Him!  Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
Oh, praise Him!  Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit three in one
Oh, praise Him!  Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

life in photos

Meridith1 Comment

I just now found some photos on my phone that I thought might be worth sharing…. Quality isn’t amazing, but gives a look into some of the things I’ve been up to.

Dulcimer strings arrive in the mail (ebay… paid like $4)

Order of service… this is what I do…

Perhaps someday these fortunes will come true…

Eggplant parm.  Eggplant from Mom’s garden, made complete with spaghetti noodles.  Come over, I’ll make you some.

One of the joys of getting up early and running… sunrises.

wrapping up week #8 of training!

Meridith1 Comment

Dearest readers,

Maybe these marathon training updates bore you, but this is my reality, so here you go.

Long runs.  Those of you who run races much know the concept.  Basically, one day a week (usually Saturday or Sunday, depending on schedules) you push your distance gradually, including some taper weeks, so you can work up to the distance you will run on your race.  Many people have the misconception that people training for marathons run long distances every day: not true.  Rest days are just as important as any other day of the week.  Anyway, long runs are a chance to build mental focus, and just help log more milage for the week for you too.

My confession: the past 4 weeks or so, my entire life has been up in the air, with VBS, moving, among other things, I haven’t been able to get a good long run in during any of the weekends. Last Saturday I was supposed to do 12, but only ended up doing 8 or 9.  Anyway, the significance of that is: I have never run more than 10 miles, EVER… so I had this looming fear that once I did, I would get injured, or just not be able to actually do it.  Upon looking at my training schedule earlier this week, I realized: I had to run 13 miles this Saturday.  And for those who don’t know, that’s a half-marathon!!

So, yes, if you’re wondering, I DID in fact survive.  I ran from Central Point to Jacksonville and back.. it was STUNNING this morning.  Running along the fields and watching the sun slowly come up.  It’s amazing out there when you aren’t driving and in a hurry… A few interesting happenings took place though, but I won’t share the details.  You probably don’t want to know.  If you do, ask me.

As I was running today, my thoughts drifted back to 8th grade (some of the “mental focus” just means finding things to think about that really don’t matter much at all..), when I first did any kind of running at all outside of PE class.  I joined Track my 8th grade year, and I still to this day have no idea why!

Anyway, when I joined, I knew I was going to have to find some event to do… tried all of them, couldn’t really do any of the sprints, did hurdles but during one of the races tripped and fell (short legs)… somehow, I ended up choosing to run the 400.

The 400 was one of the more difficult races, in between a sprint, and a longer run.  One time around the track.  A fourth of a mile.  As it so happened, for some reason in our league, there weren’t many girls that ran the 400.  In fact, at almost every meet, there were usually only 3 of us that ran.  And, as it would be, almost every time, I placed 2nd.  Granted, I KNEW I wasn’t very good, so don’t worry, it didn’t go to my head.

Somehow, I made it to the overall, league qualifying meet.  Wow, I still remember it as clear as day.  There were 8 of us that day, the most I’d ever raced against.  The stands were full.  I was so nervous.  I knew I was slow!!  Anyway, I started out probably in the middle of the pack, but then half way around the track, EVERYONE sprinted to the finish line, and I was left at the end of the pack… all alone.  I was the slowest, and last one!!!

What was even more embarrassing was when I finally drew closer to the finish line, all the parents and fans in the stands rose to their feet, clapping for me.. the last one to finish.  I was red I’m sure, but I also didn’t feel too well.. almost puked.

So back to now.  Today as  I was running I remembered that story because I know I’m not really a “good” runner, but part of pushing yourself is all mental, and really nothing physical.  Last week, I ran a 5K on the whim with my sister and Lindsey.  I’m not a 110 pound 6’3″ skinny 16 year old boy that can run a 5K in 10 minutes… slow and steady at times.  (However, I did win a ribbon for finishing 2nd in my age/gender category in the race!)

I was also today thinking about a 10K I ran while I was in Thailand.. the International River Kwai Run.  I didn’t train at all, and actually at that point, hadn’t even run much while in Thailand, so I wasn’t at all used to the humidity.  While plugging along and breathing loudly, I’ll never forget, the sweetest Thai man started running along side me and said “one step at a time”, while smiling from ear to ear.  That’s my modo for this… one step at a time.  I’m not unique person, anyone could throw on a pair of shoes and finish a marathon.  But for me, this is about overcoming what my mind and body have said for so long isn’t possible.  This is for me , to conquer my fears, and to do something I want to do before I die: train and finish a marathon.

Who knows, this could be the start of something new! 🙂

The Marathon Diaries, Week 4

MeridithLeave a comment

Beginning of week 4: the Marathon Diaries.

Twenty-six point two miles never felt farther to me.  Currently in the training schedule, I don’t run close to that much in a WEEK.  Let alone one, single, run.  Holy cow, what am I doing?

Maybe that’s why I’ve put off registering…

No, I have a better reason why I’ve put off registering, I’m waiting to see how my knee/IT band does once I’m up a little more mileage, basically, this week, and next will tell.  If you see me passed out on the side of the road some morning, you’ll know that: 1) I probably won’t be running the PDX Marathon after all and 2) that I may be in need of your assistance.  Call 911 and come help me.  Hopefully I won’t already be dead.

You know, when I tell people that I’m training for a Marathon, everyone seems to get the same look of shock, amazement and terror in their eyes as they reply, “YOU ARE???”.  I laugh.  They stand there shocked a few moments more.  Then they say, “Wow, I could never do that, I’m not a runner, I hate running”. To that, I reply, “me too, I hate running, I was a cheerleader in High School and never ran more than a mile until I was probably… 20”.

Truth is, I’m not really a runner at heart, but there are a lot of things I’m learning to love about it.  Once you get over the “wall”… which usually takes a while… I don’t think I have in the past 3 weeks… Once the wall is broken, your legs become wings, and you could run forever.  Mentally you come to a place of triumph, and you soar down the road and leave clouds of dust behind you.  It’s an amazing feeling.  I can’t wait to get back to that.  Hopefully this week.

Anyway, I’ve been trying to get into a routine of getting up early and running.  Let’s just say I haven’t been successful.  This morning, as I lay lifeless in bed, with my nose still throbbing in pain from how many times I had blown it yesterday, I suddenly woke up, seeing the dim dawn light coming through my curtains. I rolled over to glance at my phone to see the time was: 5:54 a.m.  Of course my first thought was “wow, I should really get up and go running now”… but instead of listening to that still small voice, I tried to sleep a little longer. As the minutes slowly passed by, it was like my shoes were calling me.  They wanted to run.  6:02 a.m.,  I jump up, gaze out my window and stare at the allergy infested grassland around me, I thought once again about going back to bed, but somehow my arms reached for my running shoes instead.  This was a truly out of body experience.

So yeah, I ran early this morning.  Short run, just 3 miles.  (And yes, there was once a day when a “short run” was more like five steps, but these days, 3 and 4 milers are short.  Wow, I’m a runner.)

Well, if you care, you’ve finished this blog.  I’ll keep you all updated on how my body is surviving this venture.

10.10.10.  If I’m still alive and make it to race day.