LACES & GRACE(S)

 

On Friday, spring had finally sprung in the DC area and with the super long 6-month winter everyone was in the mood to thaw out. And, with this comes the runners. I swear there are times that I think Forrest Gump multiplied to the nth degree in this area.

Runners have always fascinated me. Secretly, I have always wanted to be one. I crave the serenity that appears to exude from their very being just by lacing up a pair of running shoes. However, after 5 plus years of trying to join the elite runner’s club it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me. Yet, I continue to try season after season.

Which brings me back to Friday. The weather was gorgeous and it was the perfect evening for a little 5k. But, my inner self was warring with my practical self on debating whether to lace up the sneakers or pour a crisp glass of wine and enjoy the first great Friday evening on the back porch with my mom. Practicality won and I headed to Crystal City with my sister 

So, there I stood … at the back of the crowd with the double-wide baby strollers; the way-too-large dogs harnessed on way too long of leashes; and all those who vowed that when the weather turned nicer they would start a running regiment thinking I should surely have graduated from the 14.5 minute mile crowd after 5 years. I began to get really discouraged as I do at the start of every running season. Tears began to well in my eyes and I turned away from my sister, who has forever been a consistent 10-minute-miler, not wanting to have to explain the frustration that permeates year after year.

Quickly, I took inventory again of all those who had the courage to lace up their shoes and mentally determined to do 3 miles. And, I psychologically calculated what I would say to any of them that began to feel discouraged or thought they were not good enough or fast enough to be out there. I realized that I needed to give myself that pep talk realizing that even though I may never be the 10-minute-miler I am out there; I am trying; and I am progressing forward. As I continue to grow in my grace for others I was reminded that it should also be afforded to myself.

I did not make the 10-minute club but I did shave off a little less than a minute per mile. One step at a time …

ONE-EYED LESSONS

Things I’ve learned from my one-eyed dog …

1. Imperfections are what make us unique. While each of our faces is made up of two eyes, a nose and a mouth no two people are alike. Each little scar, freckle and mark makes us different from another. And, when you look past the thing that makes a person dissimilar from yourself you often find a hidden treasure that binds us all together in a similar sphere.
2. Don’t let your handicap become your crutch. I have met many who have a handicap in one fashion or another and they are among some of the strongest people in the world. I think there is a certain strand of tenacity that accompanies an imperfection. God bestows on us each an individual set of gifts. To those that lack one thing He seems to multiply in another.
3. Love is the thing. Whether canine or human, most times, at the end of the day all you need is love. They say there is no love like that of a dog and when I come home from an exhausting day her love is the antidote that corrects all the wrong. I think we should share this basic love with one another as well. A kind word or a genuinely warm hug permeates the most rigid of boundaries.
4. Know your angles. Whether in life or in photos we all have a good side. Always remember to turn toward it at a moment's notice. Be it the flash of a camera or a flash of life be prepared to meet it head on with your best side forward!
5. Pride is pride. Again, whether canine or human we all bestow an element of pride. When she stumbles because she did not see an impending obstacle on her right side she quickly assesses who witnessed this blunder and how much did they actually see. I find this true of myself as well. When pride thrusts us into a realm of vanity we need to take a step back; evaluate the fact that we are – indeed- human and therefore, fallible; and just have a good hard laugh at ourselves. When we do not take ourselves too seriously those that love us are allowed to accept us at our worst as well as our best. Because, after all … all you need is love!

A GREAT DEBATE

I read an article yesterday regarding Alec Baldwin and his choice to retire from the public eye. It was a lengthy read; however, it held my interest because the media is/was so quick to highlight every negative comment or thought that he could ever conjure all the while so quickly able to bypass any good the man had ever done. Apparently, the latest accusation is that he is a homophobic and the world cannot see past that (albeit, there is no concrete evidence that proves the allegation).  This is not a soapbox of whether Alec is right or wrong – in any capacity. This is about me looking at someone who has had an opinion and it is automatically labeled negative – regardless of its orientation or intent. And, it led me to think about how quick we, as a society, are to jump on a bandwagon that is headed straight into Negativityville at a rapid speed!

I don’t know about you but last I checked I was not perfect. While it is an ambition I (fictitiously) think I may one day achieve the reality is that I fail. And, I fail daily. And, so do those around me – no matter how much I love them. But, when I fail (and when they fail) why are we so quick to judge, label and mock?

While I can appreciate some of Alec’s early film work (I cannot attest to his sitcom fame as I have never watched an episode of 30 Rock) it is safe to say that he has bordered on the line of inappropriate more than not. Yet, in reading his article and swiftly conducting a Google search it is proven that he has probably provided as much benefit to the world (to the tune of $14M) as he has “harm”. In all the press I read about him I do not recall charitable and gracious as the headline - although Google begs to differ. What I do recall are all the times that he fell short.

Why do we condemn so quickly? God commanded that we love Him and love others – first and foremost – above all else. If we are to walk in these things why do we so easily falter outside of them?

Before we judge, can we take a step back? Look at the situation and the person as a whole and account for its totality? We have all lipped off in anger. We have all said things that will forever live in eternity. We have all been victims of infamy either by bad judgment or by misunderstanding. But, when are we going to make a stand by taking a moment and walk in love?

Jesus says, what you do to the least of these you do to me – Matthew 25:40 (paraphrasing, mine). Even if you are not one to turn a cheek because Christ instructed you to … can you turn a cheek in hopes that someday, someone will do the same for you? 

TALENT & HUMILITY

Anyone who knows me for more than a half second knows that I am an avid tennis fan. More precisely, I am an avid men’s tennis fan. I have never really been able to follow women’s and this weekend it became quite clear why I just don’t have the heart for it. For season after season and with each new Grand Slam Tournament, I try to create a fondness for women’s tennis but I just can’t. I began to really reject it at the US Open finals in 2009 when Serena Williams had several HORRENDOUS outbursts toward the lines woman for calling her foot faults. To be fair, very seldom is a foot fault called in a Grand Slam – especially a final. So, for her to have two called was a bit odd. However, I think how we respond to life’s inopportune hiccups is how our character is really defined. It was a final. It was the final match of the final tournament for the season. It was Kim Clijsters final, retiring match. And, Serena threw it away for all of them with her derogatory, defaming shouts of profanity. Then last night, as I was thinking maybe I could cheer on the lone American woman it all came back … abundantly clear … why I just do not think great talent is an excuse for lack of humility. Caveat for my upcoming opinion - While I do not profess to be a tennis professional I am not sure that you have total control of where you return the ball (although, I am sure there are many out there that would disagree). So. Sloane Stephens returns the ball and it does hit Vika’s torso. Stephens immediately held up her racquet (the universal sign for “I’m sorry” in the tennis world) and Vika refused to even acknowledge her. Poor Stephens tried again and was promptly ignored a second time. When I was fed up with, yet again, another brash display of utter arrogance I was about to change the channel. And then the opposite occurred. Azarenka volleyed a return, which did not end up hitting Stephens as she quickly ducked but the response was so polar opposite that it made me smile. Stephens simply laughed and returned to the baseline while Vika refused to even apologize.

With this, it brings me back full circle to my mens! I have and will always be a Roger Federer fan – fan does not begin to describe my respect for him but an appropriate noun nonetheless. Even though he holds the record with 17 Grand Slam titles it is not this achievement that impresses me. It is his humility. His net worth is over $180M and one would never know it. He has always handled himself with such humbleness and modesty you can’t help but like the guy. Equally as modest are some of his best competitors – Nadal, Murray, and I will throw Djokovic in there although there are days I am not quite sure. However, Djokovic’s worst day is better than most women’s best day …

God gives us all natural talents. There are some he bestows with more than others but how we handle them is how we will be held accountable. Just because you can doesn’t mean you always should … Respect what you have but respect others above your talent. You do not know what tomorrow holds. One injury can cause it all to come crashing down. Careful who you step on and disrespect on you way up. If you fell to the bottom of the heap, who would offer you a hand to help you back on your feet? 

WHERE AM I GOING?

Where am I going? After having put this category up I am sort of questioning if it was one of my more brilliant ideas. I am coming up with a pretty resounding no! The thought behind this classification was an outlet in which I would share where I was going (obviously) as I love to hear others’ stories about how they are evolving and where they think their next steps should take them. So, to be fair, I thought I would share mine in return. The problem is, I am so hesitant to put it out there. Reason 1. I have no clue. I have truly tried to dedicate my path to God over the past year and be obedient to where He is leading me. In this process I feel confused and much like a ping pong ball. So, how can I be an inspiration to others if I am this jumbled?

Reason 2. Putting out there where you are going is a big commitment. This creates a whole level of accountability that you better be prepared to live up to. If I say I am going in one direction there are a lot of people at that finish line looking for me to show up. That is a bit intimidating!

So, in all honesty of where I am going, I spend the whole summer in the book of Deuteronomy studying the act of obedience. Ironically, this week in class, I learned that Deuteronomy literally means “second law” or the fact that the children of Israel had to be told the law for the second time as they first time was not good enough for their comprehension and compliance. That pretty much summed up my experience. God had told me to move on from two relationships and I kicked and screamed and held on to them way longer than I needed to. In the process, I created a whole lot of unnecessary heartache. Stupid! 

Why do we think our reasoning is so much better than God’s? Why do we feel that we can really change the outcome of something God has ordained differently? It seems so rational in the process only to look totally idiotic in hindsight.

For those trying to move past something that you truly want to hang on to … let me help you – let it go! Trust me, God has a better plan. I am not sure what that plan is, exactly. But, I am hopeful, expectant and excited what it may be. I have learned that I cannot cling to the new without letting go of the old – you can only have one thing in your hand at a time.

THE CALLING

Classes begin on Tuesday... stay tuned.