Today I went for a gorgeous 3 mile run, in preparation for tomorrow's Bastille Day 5k. The weather is perfect, and I did the run in 32 minutes and 33 seconds. Not too shabby! My favorite soundtrack for running these days is K'naan's Troubador. If you haven't heard this album, I cannot recommend it enough. Christopher introduced me to him last year, and I instantly fell in love with his music and story, and when we saw him at the Metro later, I just wept and wept. Much like my run today.
The run was easy for me, the weather was gorgeous, and I focused on the lyrics of the music and felt so inspired and overwhelmed. It really got me to thinking--thinking about my brother and his upcoming adventure to Africa. My family is very music-oriented and the thing we have the most fun doing is sharing new music with each other, and last week I brought back 3/4 of Christopher's beloved music collection. I am looking forward to discovering more of his African music (especially if there is good running music in there) and I feel like the more and more I learn about the region and hear the music and see photos, the more I understand their calling to go there. It is so amazing to me that he and Katie can read things like this and instead of turning a blind eye, they take action to help those in need. It makes sense to me now--I have been afraid for a long time, but now am just awe-stricken at the choices that C&K have made. So in my runners high today, I was filled with love and admiration of my big brother and everything he has taught me over the years, and I wept slightly while pushing myself to the limits physically, and also mentally. I thanked God for the beautiful day, for my health, for my life and for the people in my life who I learn from and who make me a better person. I thanked Him for my family and my husband and for making me who I am.
I used to think that I could never run. But I took a risk, started small, and now I love it and am going to do a triathlon. I am going to dedicate that triathlon to my brother and sister-in-law. I am taking a risk, as they are, with the way I am choosing to live my life. We're just doing it in different ways.
Everything is scary when you don't understand it. But when you take a leap of faith and open your heart and reach out to try to learn and understand and connect with others, you gain so much. So so much. And we should always strive to keep learning.
That's so sweet, E. Thank you. That means a lot that you're dedicating the race to us. I totally couldn't (or wouldn't want to, I should say) do a race like that. Great job!
Are you running in the Bastille day race? If you are, good good luck to you! I love you!
Thank you for the kind words. That really means so much to us. I don't think I can really put into words my gratitude for your support, so I won't try. I hope you know.