Skip to content

Posts from the ‘Family’ Category

Oct 16

Wide Open Spaces

“We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” – Romans 5:1-2

“The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.” – Frances E. Willard

“The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.” – Frances E. Willard

When we reawaken our senses and look to the expansive and deep horizon beyond our self made tunnel of urgency and scarcity, we suddenly discover the wide open spaces ready to be explored, received and celebrated. In gratitude and quiet reflection, take a moment or two or several dozen today to throw open the doors of grace and let your spirit be lead to where it longs to go.

Oct 6

8 Comments

Behind the Medal

“Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers, and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love.” – Therese of Lisieux

There’s so much more behind the engraved medal at the end of the marathon. Traveling as light as possible, I don’t carry my phone so I can’t capture the beautiful scenes on the journey. But each mile has pictures engraved in my memory.

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” – Matsuo Basho

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” – Matsuo Basho

At the start line, thousands of runners gather hopeful and excited, sprinkled with a bit of fear of what’s to come, but starting just the same. My first marathon with my brother John and both of our third marathons.

From start to finish, people gather along the streets clapping, jumping, cheering for strangers – scattering flowers. A mom stops to kiss her husband and kids who are beaming with pride in her feat. Dads and daughters running along side each other.

Mile 17, questions on my sanity sneak into my thoughts then shift quickly back to what I said to myself at mile one – how do you run a marathon? – one mile at a time, break it up. Mile 21, I can make it, take it all in, walk when you have to, keep going. Passing runners at the medical stations exhausted and injured reminds me that there are no guarantees. Anything can happen on marathon day. Everyone does not finish.

I don’t visualize the finish line as much as mile 24.5 where family and friends are gathered, standing for over five hours in 40 degrees cheering thousands of runners on and waiting patiently for me to finally show up. Scattering flowers.

Mile 23.5, my niece Emily runs up to greet me with a hug and smile and starts running me home. She ran her Dad to the finish and came back out for me. My left calf knots up and she stops to rub it out. Scattering flowers.

We approach 24.5 to my cheering crowd – hugs and hoots all around as if I’ve won the marathon. Emily continues on with me and Linda, who has an injured knee, joins us to run me to the finish. Just down the road, Jeanne is waving her arms, doing jumping jacks and joins my finishing pack. Scattering flowers.

The finish line. The medal. The journey that started four months ago and hundreds of miles is complete with the final 26.2. And each mile of the journey, I’ve never been alone. I’ve been gathering flowers.

Oct 2

9 Comments

Detours

“I have dreamed in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind.” – Emily Bronte

On my way to a meeting yesterday by my house, I knew the shortest route to get there. When the road was backed up, I changed my route even though it was a bit longer. As I drove down the altered path, I realized its familiarity.

All summer long, I ran this path for my marathon training many early Saturday mornings. And this morning’s detour shifted my worry about Sunday’s marathon to excitement and calm. Doubts suddenly overcome with ease in knowing that I did the work and the results will unfold as they are meant to.

This journey is complete. And what remains is getting to the start line, joining thousands of runners who share similar stories of set backs, personal records, injuries and fatigue from four months of training in the middle of life that’s filled with too many commitments, deadlines and distractions. And yet, they showed up, despite those voices of dissent.

The detours, wins, ties and losses are all part of our life, our path transforming us into who we already are. All of the altered paths lead us to what’s next and what’s right for us. Put down the map and take in the scenery. It’s a beautiful path, especially the detours.

Sep 9

6 Comments

Turn, Turn, Turn

“Our soul – with its insistence on finding the still point from which it keeps rising – carries us through the seasons of our lives. The still point under all that keeps moving waits under every season we can imagine.” – Mark Nepo, Seven Thousand Ways to Listen

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted …” Ecclesiastes 3

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted …” Ecclesiastes 3

Every season carries its own gifts. As summer wanes, the cool crisp morning air of autumn slowly enters, stage left. The summer days linger in the warm afternoon as the sunset exits earlier, stage right. Summer transforms slowly, then suddenly. Green turns to waves of orange, red and gold swaying in the wind to the crackling carpet beneath our feet.

If we remember and let go of the sweet summer days, we can open the blessings and harvest of autumn with no regret, filled with the same anticipation of spring to summer.

As more seasons pass, gratitude, hope and joy deepen in the small things, in the grace of moment-rich days. Be awake to the gifts of each season, accepting and appreciating all that comes from each one. A time to every purpose under heaven – turn, turn, turn.

Aug 20

6 Comments

Fun, well done

“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” – Randy Pausch

One day seems too short to celebrate a birthday. So birthday week continues with a few visual guides to sum up three valuable insights on living well from wise sage and birthday girl Molly, accompanied by her lovely assistants/best friends, Elly and Lily.

  1. Quietly being with friends is more than enough;
    ellymollylilymolly
  2. There’s nothing better than a soft kiss on the forehead;
    mollyelly2lilymolly2
  3. And most importantly remember to grab your friends by the collar, shake them up and have some fun.
    play

Be aware, awake and in tune to your beauty-filled, delight-filled and swiftly moving life each and every day. Have fun, cast light.

 

Aug 18

8 Comments

Freeze Frame

 

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Seuss

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Seuss

On Saturday, Molly turned 8 years old. Indeed, how the time has “flewn.” I remember the road trip across Wisconsin with Dad to bring this sweet girl home and so many ordinary days filled with extraordinary joy in between. My best friend’s son went off to college this weekend. I remember the first time I met Sharon at the University of Minnesota freshman orientation 29 years ago. Unbelievable. Friends getting married, becoming grandparents, kids off to their first day of kindergarten. The mix of life’s sweet celebrations.

Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, engagements, weddings fill our calendars. We plan, prepare, anticipate, party, laugh, cry and wish we could freeze these frames of life. As we “mark” these big moments, remember and savor all of the little moments that fill each day. Time will not stop for us to figure it all out and regret only wastes more time. With a grateful heart, dive deep into these ordinary days with awe and wonder. Maybe the only way we can slow time just a bit.

 

Aug 14

10 Comments

Under Construction

“The very contradictions in my life are in some ways signs of God's mercy to me.” – Thomas Merton

“The very contradictions in my life are in some ways signs of God’s mercy to me.” – Thomas Merton

“Every human being is under construction from conception to death.” – Billy Graham

The joke (a bit of truth) in Minnesota is that there are two seasons – winter and road construction. All four seasons are beautiful. We’re just keeping it a secret. Although there are days when we contend with, nay survive, 30 below wind chill. It builds character and it’s all a part of the journey.

When we accept rather than lament the detours, potholes, bumps and delays on our journey, we can stop asking“why” and move deep into living well (not perfect) through the valleys and mountains, remaining steadfast as our purpose unfolds.

God either changes our situation or he changes us to get through to the other side – not around it but rather right through the flipping thick middle of it. The reason will be revealed later as we look in the rear view mirror. In the meantime, we must trust it and ride it out.

We are all under construction, a work in progress.  Succeeding, failing, tripping, up, down, winning, losing, tired, invigorated, falling behind, inspired, inspiring, laughing, crying and ultimately getting back up again and again, moving ever so clunky to our  destination.

We need only to overcome our assumptions and move beyond the whys, whens, hows, the past, regret, worry or what if. When we accept that our path often times won’t be what we planned, but it’s meant to be, we can get back to living, learning, getting through, helping others and getting back on the road.

Under construction and on my way.

Aug 6

In This Place

“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought ‘surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'” – Genesis 28:16

How often we are asleep as we walk through our days, missing the goodness, blessings and gifts. Wake up, you’re in the middle of your day, your life and God is surely in this place. Aware, grateful and awestruck – three really good places to be in. Cast light and let light be cast on you.

Aug 1

4 Comments

Encouragement

“The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” – William Wordsworth

Criticism and cynicism is a wide and well-traveled road. A jam-packed highway in fact. Encouragement and gratitude may be the road less traveled, but it sure makes the journey sweeter. A simple acknowledgment, a compliment, a smile, a “hello”, a kind word can change a moment, a day, a life. It’s that powerful.

Too often we buy into scarcity. There’s more than enough encouragement, recognition and edification to go around that never depletes the well, but rather replenishes it. We are steeped in abundance, the well will not run dry.

Recklessly and with great abandon, turn yourself inside out and embrace those in your world with kindness and encouragement. Win hearts, feed souls, lift spirits, cast light.

Jul 23

7 Comments

Authentic Leadership

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

I asked Jeanne to teach me how to do speed work so I could mix up my running routine, making it a little less routine. It’s easy to get into a rut even in good habits. Tonight, she taught me and made it fun. There are many more lessons I’ve learned from her through the years. She’s magnetic and draws people to her with who she is to the core.

Jeanne will often say she’s a follower not a leader. It could not be farther from the truth. Authentic leadership is unselfish, shining the spotlight on others. Authentic leadership shares knowledge with actions more than words, with genuine enthusiasm more than pontificating. Authentic leadership is ego-free and generous in spirit, actually making us believe that we know more than we do, building our confidence to keep trying.

So when I look for models of leadership, I am certainly not looking at those in politics, entertainment or most businesses. Real leadership is modeled by those in our daily lives who quietly, unassumingly and authentically live it out each day, reaching outward rather than calling attention to self.  Natural and real, building others rather than themselves.

Outstanding lesson in not only speed work, but authentic leadership in so many areas of life – thanks Jeanne, your grateful student.

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »