Five things friday (anniversary, coaching, church)

Hey there, and happy Friday to you! I am back in my regular routine again... so the house has been cleaned today, and my head feels a little more stable atop my shoulders. 

1. ANNIVERSARY #43

Yesterday was our 43rd wedding anniversary. It's weird that I can remember some things from that time like yesterday, and others... not at all. At any rate, we went out for supper last night, and discovered we sat at the very same table in the very same restaurant (Cork n' Cleaver) for our anniversary last year. We also both had a filet, baked potato, and salad bar last year too.

We talked about old times a bit last night. My first memory of m'Lady was when I was in 6th grade and she in 5th. I can still picture her, with her sandy blonde hair, standing in the hallway line for the drinking fountain. I don't know why that memory is burned into my mind, but I'm glad it is.

I don't really have any marriage advice - if someone were to ask - but I know it involves a lot... a lot of love, tears, forgiveness, life, death, humility, heartache, strength, perseverance, grace, mercy, kindness, help, kisses, sex, and... did I say love? I suppose we could go on but... you get the idea. I consider it nothing short of a miracle she has stayed with me this long...

2. COACHING WEBINAR

Yesterday I took in a webinar on 'The Art of Asking Better Questions' with J.R. Briggs. I believe it was put on by Coach Approach Ministries. That's the organization where I got my coaching license years ago, and it was good to see/hear Brian Miller (their president) again. I miss him. I also miss the leadership coaching world in general. 

Anyway, I took in the webinar yesterday because I would still like to use coaching principles in day-to-day life and other areas of leadership, even though I no longer do it formally.

Two points that stuck out yesterday:

1. "Four-year-old girls are the best question-askers." (We generally stop in middle school)
2. "The best questions are 15 words or less."

3. LUNCH WITH THE PASTOR

I had lunch today with our pastor. We spent time talking about our upcoming summer focus (as a church) on tending. The idea: 1) Create more awareness of how spiritual growth works and is sustained. This may include both the ways we knowingly tend to our souls (and the souls of others) and the ways we are pure recipients of God's tending. 2) Equip people to identify the sublime work of God within their inner worlds. 3) Encourage people to engage and learn through hands on tending to nature (gardening, landscaping, tending to house plants, time outdoors) and specific spiritual practices, which correlate.

We also shared some personal issues, as well as the struggle to guard against those who want church to fit into a certain box - especially those who ask "why can't we just have a normal church?" It may sound odd, but this is a serious thing for both of us. I always feel honored and humbled to be invited into these discussions...

4. CREATINE

I have always somewhat prided myself on not taking any supplements (other than a single multivitamin). However, I'm seriously considering adding creatine gummies (particularly this brand designed for endurance athletes). I've been seeing more and more about it, and have read a few articles. I recently subscribed to Runners Connect and their 5/12/26 newsletter went pretty in-depth into what it is, why, and the benefits especially for older athletes. I would try a daily regimen of 3-5g on a consistent basis. I have no interest in bulking up, but I can really feel how my muscles have weakened the past few years. Hopefully it would slow the deterioration down, and also aid in recovery after longer runs. So, we'll see...

5. THE QUOTE

"Stop asking what your life means. Ask what life is asking of you, right now, in this specific situation, with these specific people in front of you. Your conduct is the answer."

    - (Crazy Old Man, explaining Victor Frankl)

Okey doke... I'm not even going to look over this for typo's. You're on your own! Enjoy... and why not force yourself to smile right now. Seriously! Do it! Just... smile. Right now. Hold it for 20 seconds (or more).

There... Have a great weekend! 

Spiritual maturity: we have a good god

The second "conversation" (chapter) in Winn Collier's exceptional little book 'Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fenelon' is titled "How Do I Pursue Spiritual Maturity?" Or, as Winn says, "How do we grow up?"

On p.21 are these gems he has translated from Fenelon's work:

• "With all the mental energy we exert, we can spend so much of our life hoarding knowledge that we will need another whole life to try to actually live any of it. We face the very real danger of thinking that our accumulation of 'spiritual' knowledge is the indicator of our spiritual development. Not true."
• "We love the learning, the knowledge, the illumination of ideas, just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden. But unfortunately, we do not love simply trusting, simply obeying, simply living." (Ouch - in a good way)
• "If you just stop all the wrestling and resisting and harried effort, you will find yourself on your way to becoming who God has in mind for you to be."
• "...these are the virtues you really need: humility and self-distrust."

 Hmm... yeah... That's something worth chewing on. For me, personally, I think that's why I've always liked to read through books slowly. It is also why I have lately been leaning towards buying fewer 'new' books, and re-reading more books I've already read in the past that I found helpful. It would be nice to say I won't buy anymore books... but I know that's probably never going to happen... 

In his letter "To a Spiritually Exhausted Soul"... I liked this bit of encouragement from Fenelon (again, as translated by Collier): "...there is something very rich and pure about simply not giving up, particularly when there is little pleasure in your Christian experience."

He goes on that... if it still seems too hard... then make it even simpler: "just love God." Whatever else you need to do "will grow from the soil of love."

I like that.

The kicker in this section, to me, was this little bit:

When St. Ambrose was dying, someone asked him if he was afraid of God's judgments. "We have a good master," Ambrose said. This is what we need to tell ourselves: we need not fear death; we have a good God.

He carries on this thought...

Saint Augustine said that we need to be emptied of all we have tried to make of ourselves. That way, when we stand before God after death we have only two things to give him: our utter brokenness and God's rich mercy. This is a brilliant way to arrive before God, because our brokenness is the very spot where he longs to pour his mercy -- lots of it. And this overflowing mercy is the only thing that can ever make us (in any true sense) good.

 

Yeah... So, maybe: spiritual maturity is all about coming to realize... the goodness of God.

Hmm... 

---

• Introduction
• First Conversation
  

Trip to minnesota and my electrophysiologist visit

I am gradually catching up and getting back in the saddle today. Man, I don't know how I would ever do this if I still had a real job...

TRIP TO MINNESOTA

We visited the boy and his family in St. Paul this past weekend. We drove up last Thursday and arrived back home Monday evening. It's funny how it takes around 9 1/2 hours to get there, but it only took 8 hours and 40 minutes to get home. Weird. Although, leaving from their at 7:30am-ish put us through Chicago just after lunch time, and that's a really good time to do it.

On the way there we took Rt. 30 to I-65 to I-80/90 to I-294 to I-90/94. On the way home we took I-94 almost the entire way, then I-90 right through Chicago. From the Barrington Travel Oasis (north of Chicago) to the Skyway (south of Chicago) took right about an hour. Not bad at all. Of course, once we got to Fort Wayne it seemed to take forever to get through town...

While we were there we mostly just hung around the house, went for walks, and played with the youngest grandchild. I believe we went out to eat Friday evening, and Sunday for brunch.

HEART DOCTOR VISIT

Of course, my electrophysiologist's office called while I was on the way to Minnesota and said they could get me in to see the nurse practitioner the day after we got back (yesterday) - for my annual consultation. I took it, because the next available for him was September, and the next available with the actual doctor was now sometime in January. Whatever.

It went fine. My blood pressure was 180/90, but I think most of that is because they do it right away and I'm leaning weird on the table with my legs dangling down. It's also because I just freak out in a doctors office. No one was worried about it. My EKG was apparently fine. I told him I'd had an "episode" of some kind twice since last year - a couple days around Christmas, and again in February. However, they didn't last, and I wasn't sure if it was actual afib or something else. He said to just keep doing what I was doing.

I asked about the Watchman implant - because there was a poster in the office. He said that's always a possibility, but he said as long as the blood thinners weren't a problem, he didn't really see a need for it. Even if I someday had another ablation, the implant would be a separate procedure anyway.

I also asked about getting a sleep test done - just to see. He ordered an at-home test for me, saying that he had just ordered one for himself too. I will be curious to see what that turns up.

Otherwise... it was an okay visit. I like both the doctor and the NP. They're very laid-back and friendly.

 

So, that's about all there is to say about that...

Five things friday

Greetings, friends. I am writing on this sleepy Friday afternoon from sunny St. Paul, MN. And on my phone, no less…

1. DRIVING

We drove here yesterday and it wasn’t even a terrible trip (we would have flown, but who can afford that nowadays?). If you can finagle when you go through Chicago, it takes just a little over 9 hours. We left home at 8:20am and Chicago traffic (an hour behind us) was fine. There was some construction as we neared St. Paul which slowed us down a little, but still got here at 4:50pm (their time). Had we not had to stop 4 times we’d have been here much sooner. 

2. POLITICS

The primary elections happened in our state this past week. I have not verified it, but I read where, of the approximately 100,000 primary votes cast in Indiana, 80,000 were by Democrats, and 20,000 by Republicans. 

I know many people are expecting a "blue wave" come election day this November - meaning big Democrat gains across the country.

Personally, I don't know of one good thing to say about the Republican party. All they seem concerned with is doing whatever they can to not upset trump, so they can make more money and gain more power (which is all he seems concerned with).

So, I am all in favor of these people losing. However, the Democrats have not exactly shown me they are interested in anything other than that themselves (minus the trump part, at least in some cases). 

I'm wondering what it will take for ANY politician to address the actual problems in this country and work for the betterment of society. Healthcare, housing, the growing gap between rich and poor, common sense regulations in regard to guns, climate change, infrastructure, etc.

My guess is - until big money (corporate money) is removed from the equation, and term limits are applied to the house, senate, and Supreme Court - nothing is going to change. I have absolutely zero hope in politics. 

3. RUNNING FORM (CHI RUNNING)

I have been re-reading and re-watching some videos on ChiRunning. Something I really need to do is get my running form straightened out (again). I try to keep on top of it, but over time I forget little things - and these little things can add up over time.

So, I have re-watched this video on the basics of ChiRunning form a few times. It's another one of those things that seems simple, but it's not necessarily easy to maintain. I need all the help I can get on running economy and avoiding injury.

4. SPEAKING OF HEALTHCARE SUCKS

This week my cardiologist’s office called to schedule my annual visit. I was last there June of 2025, and they said at that time they don’t schedule appointments a year out, so they would call when they were ready. Whatever. They called from an unknown number and left a voicemail, so I called them back to schedule my June follow-up appointment. I said I would take the “first available.” The person said November was the next available time. I said, “I thought I was supposed to come back in June?” She says, “Yes, you are, but the next available appointment is in November. Do you want it?” I just laughed and said “whatever.” She said she would put me on a list in case there was a cancellation.

The very next day the office called and said I could get in next week with the NP. I said I was on my way to Minnesota and asked if there was an opening a little later. She said September was the next available for the NP.

???????

What the hell? I can’t make an appointment a year out - and maybe I can’t even make an appointment myself (unless they call me)… but when they do call, it is however many months out…?

Remember when people said we couldn’t have universal healthcare because it would take so long to get in to see a doctor….? So, why can’t we have it now???

I give up. And, I KNOW this is not because of the doctors and nurses. It’s the healthcare “system.” Which means, it’s the executives making all the damn money! Grhh.

5. THE QUOTE

“No one tells you running is 10% cardio and 90% negotiating with the voice begging you to quit.” - David Dack, endurance athlete

Okay, that’s all I’ve got for today. Sorry it’s not very cheery, but there’s nothing says we can’t have a happy Friday. Carry on… as long as you can stand it. ;)

 

 

This is why god's disappointment is necessary

Winn Collier's fine little book 'Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fenelon' is broken into eight "conversations" (some might call these 'sections,' or 'chapters'), with several letters making up each conversation. 

The First Conversation is "Why is God So Peculiar?" It sets a good tone.

Collier says on p.2 "Becoming a follower of God is hard because it requires that we submit ourselves fully to a God who is other than us."

Yeah... that right there says so much. It is hard. And for everyone who believes we can create God in our image... he is quick to set us straight...

"But God won't leave us to wallow there. He will help us, but he must upset our addiction to control... This is why God's disappointment is necessary. He is helping us, peeling back our fingers, loosening our white-knuckled grip from our life..."

Man... I so relate to that. It's why it has taken 60+ years for my mind to even begin to catch up to my body. And both are still changing! But I'm glad. Because control is a difficult thing to admit we have little of... and also something many/most of us are addicted to.

Later in this section is this translation of Fenelon's work via Collier:

"The rough, humbling waters have wrecked your self-confidence.

And this is good. There is hope in the humility we find on a hard path and in rough waters."

Are you struggling right now? Whether it be work-related, family, relational, inner self, health, financial... whatever... What if this is all due to your white-knuckle grip on control of your life? What would happen if you simply... let go?

A saying the wife and I are fond of us, "What's the worst that could happen?" Seriously... what's the worst that could happen? Really. In light of eternity... 

 

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.

With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

- Matthew 5:3 (The Message)

 

Subvert the lies by living the truth

As I mentioned the other day, I am reading Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fenelon, by Winn Collier. It has been good so far...

Despite the homemade-looking typeset, I like how these "letters" from Fenelon (as interpreted by Collier) are grouped into themes, but each separate writing is only 2-3 pages. I like reading short bits like that.

In the introduction Collier brings out this point from Fenelon's writing: Of his correspondents who have asked for his advice (FF), "He suggests that they subvert the lies by simply living the truth." 

Yes! Is that not something we need today? And, not truth as in "Let me say some nasty thing that we're all thinking"... but, more... truth as frankness. Good, honest, and true.

It's like... I was proud of my wife recently. Someone she works with said something that hurt her feelings (among other things). Rather than letting it fester and create a further divide, or gossiping to everyone else about it, she asked to meet with the person one-on-one. She shared how what was said made her feel, truthfully. There was no blame, no accusation, just... this is how that made me feel. The world could use more of that.

Regarding the subject of the book, Collier says this on p. xvi of the introduction:

Many of us long for a wise elder voice to provide us with spiritual direction. We do not want to be coddled or cajoled. We do not want to be given small-minded moralism. We long for depth and authenticity. We do not want a quick fix or a trite answer. We just want a wiser voice, one who knows God and his ways. And we want to learn how to live in our world in a manner that is truly good...

That! That's what I want. I want that with God, and with the people who are part of my world. Unfortunately, I am not very good at it. So, I'm trying to be better... or to allow God to help me.

I have read about a quarter of the book so far, and have underlined probably half of that. It is slow reading, with nothing fancy or resolved. It's just my style.

I hope to have more to write on this book in the future...

After running a marathon

So, the latest marathon has been done for a week now. It was nice to take a week completely off from running, lifting, and basically any other exercise-related endeavors. What did I do instead? Well, other than starting a new book and catching up on some unread emails...

THE DERBY PARTY

We attended our annual Kentucky Derby party Saturday. It is hosted by a couple I met when working at the Y, and there is a whole group of people who work out there that get together once every other month or so for lunch, and this couple has this party every year.

Ry & Laura host it (he is 83 but still fit as a fiddle - he was a long-time volleyball player and they both still work out every day). Others in attendance were: us, Jane T. (her husband, Tony, was coaching a club volleyball team and wasn't there), Joe & Robin, Jim & Kathy, Andy & Mary Jo, Tom, Steve, and there were another half dozen that couldn't make it to the party.

The hosts supplied pulled pork sliders, sodas and bourbon, and everyone else brought food and drink to share. Jane always makes these cucumber/tomato things on a cracker-size bread thingy, and we also usually bring some Dark Horse red wine.

Everyone draws their horse/horses out of a hat for $2 each, and the winner gets the big pot. There is also a prize for best male/female hat, and the last-place horse. We didn't win anything this year. It was still fun!
 

PREACHING

I gave the message at church yesterday. It went fine. Oddly enough, I think I am less nervous/stressed about speaking at this church than I ever was at the church I pastored. Maybe it's maturity, or... I don't know what.

I opened with the 1995 Dishwalla song 'Counting Blue Cars' ("tell me all your thoughts on God..."), then loosely used info from the book Slow Theology as a guide - also incorporating John 14:1-6. My main points were: 1. We are all theologians, 2. We're not always good at it though (some 'thoughts on God' are not helpful), and 3. That doesn't mean we are wrong, just unfinished (there is a difference between bad theology and unfinished theology). The closing went from the Barbara Brown Taylor quote "If our theology doesn't make us more loving, there is something wrong with our theology," then used this piece from Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz as an illustration of what it might should look like:

A guy I know named Alan went around the country asking ministry leaders questions. He went to successful churches and asked the pastors what they were doing, why what they were doing was working. It sounded very boring except for one visit he made to a man named Bill Bright, the president of a big ministry. Alan said he was a big man, full of life, who listened without shifting his eyes. Alan asked a few questions. I don't know what they were, but as a final question he asked Dr. Bright what Jesus meant to him. Alan said Dr. Bright could not answer the question. He said Dr. Bright just started to cry. He sat there in his big chair behind his big desk and wept.

When Alan told that story I wondered what it was like to love Jesus that way. I wondered, quite honestly, if that Bill Bright guy was just nuts or if he really knew Jesus in a personal way, so well that he would cry at the very mention of His name. I knew then that I would like to know Jesus like that, with my heart, not just my head. I felt like that would be the key to something.

 That seemed a good segue into communion...

BEGINNING AGAIN

Today was my actual first day to run/jog again after the marathon. I jogged 2 miles and walked 2 miles. I was surprised how sore and sluggish I was to start, because I thought my legs and everything felt fine. About a mile in I started to feel normal again. However, even though I went super slow, I was kinda sore afterwards. 

I will likely ease back into it slowly. I will start lifting weights again tomorrow, and maybe not job again until Wednesday. I have no reason to rush back into things, but I would like to keep up 3-5 miles/day several days a week, and then one long run per week of say 6-10 miles. That way if a half marathon came up, I should be close to ready. Of course, I always say I want to work on speed and getting stronger... We'll see.

HEADLIGHT RESTORATION 

My main accomplishment today was restoring the headlights on our Honda Accord. The first pic is what the headlights looked like AFTER I washed them. They were so cloudy. I didn't actually expect the stuff I bought to work. However, it appears it did!! I am shocked! So, that was an hour well spent...

 

Five things friday (funk, fodder, fénelon)

Greetings, folks. I'm not sure what it's like where you are, but sitting at my dining room table where I normally type this out, it is a dreary-looking funky day. Yet, here's five(ish) things...

1. FUNK (NOT GRAND)

I am not talking about the music genre, Grand Funk Railroad, or even the smell... But I'm in a bit of doldrums the past few days. I don't know if this is the post-race letdown, or if it's simply because my normal routine has been disrupted, or... what. I suppose it could be several things. 

I don't think it's anything serious, but it's kinda like my brain is tired. I haven't run this week, we made a quick trip to Peoria to see Jane's brother in the hospital, another trip is coming up, I'm still trying to pull together my sermon for this Sunday, and wondering about what my purpose (or place) in life is, why I exist, how to make some money, is the world going to end, is there any hope... you know, just the normal noises. Plus, it seems a lot of the strides I'd made emotionally over the past six months... kind of got sucked out of me all of a sudden awhile back... and it's frustrating. 

Maybe I'm just tired. I don't travel well, and I really need a regular routine. I don't think everyone realizes how difficult it can be for people who rely on routines to suddenly be deprived of them. I'm picturing a very wide-eyed, frightened child sitting inside my head right now, hugging their legs, rocking back and forth, wanting their teddy bear...

Anyway, I know this too shall pass (I hope). But it's there. Now. It came on fairly suddenly, and will likely (hopefully) leave just as suddenly. I hate it. I can feel it in the front part of my head - sort of between/behind my eyes. Sometimes it has seemed the story of my life... though it's been quite awhile sense it's visited.

2. WHAT DO YOU THINK

This morning I read this: "In 1800, 99% of physical work was done by humans and animals. Today less than 1% is. Today 90% of cognitive work is done by humans. Some now claim 90% of that will go away." That didn't really help in regard to point one above. Plus the fact that the U.S. debt now exceeds the size of the U.S. economy, I almost literally can't drive in our town because of all the road closures, our government is insane, culture is crazy, and, you know, just... everything else! Things feel a little hopeless. Which, I know, is how certain someone's are trying to make us feel. 

But "thinking"? Could it really get worse? 

I was actually thinking while driving yesterday that maybe I should just stop running, and start trying to earn some income. Or at least consult AI and figure out if I could come up with some kind of business model for this blog (or probably the substack - which I haven't touched in months). But even that seems pointless (see Ecclesiastes). 

I dunno. ... ... ... I had several things I started to write here, but... meh.

3. SYSTEM OVERLOAD

I'm sorry, but there are simply too many things to insert here... and the system has shut down. I could name off several of them, but even then, there would be too many. Sorry. Just one of those days...

4. BOOKS

I have started reading Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fénelon, by Winn Collier. I didn't realize there are apparently two versions of this book. This one looks almost self published, as the type-set is very weird. I think I wish I'd bought the one from paraclete, which looks a little better, but... whatever. I still think it will be a good read and will maybe set my brain aright again (?). 

5. THE QUOTE

"If your faith is more "white-knuckled fight" than "open-handed surrender," you've forgotten the Gospel. Grace is not just the way in, it's the way on. We don't graduate from our need for God’s mercy-fueled love — we grow deeper into it. His power does not replace our weakness; it meets us there — and is made perfect in it."   - Mike Woodruff

(This is the opening paragraph in his The Friday Update today. I could have also used the second paragraph. It was something I was glad to read today...)

Okay, I've probably brought you down enough. ;) Enjoy your weekend. Be careful not to bet your house on a horse (It's Derby weekend).

Peace

 

 

Marathon #10

 I guess I kinda spaced out about posting the results of my 10th marathon this past Sunday. The main thing: yes, I survived. It was a bit touch and go for awhile, but I made it. 

This was my third time running the Fort Wayne Marathon & Half Marathon (its fourth year). I ended up getting 84th out of 105, with a time of 4:50:06 (2nd in my age group). I averaged an 11:04 pace. I didn’t realize I was 7 minutes faster than last year’s 4:57.

I did the first half at just over a 10 min./mile pace (2:14). I walked ~.05 every 3 miles and took a drink/gel. The second half I kept the every 3 mile routine, but I started walking .1 mile and that stretched to .2 of every third mile around 22 or 23. I also stopped twice to pee and at the halfway point I had to take my shoe off to remove a rock. 

Looking back now, I suppose I didn’t feel too bad at the start. And, I didn’t have any injuries or anything at the end. Yet, boy, I think it was around mile 9 or 10 when I first started wondering if I was going to be able to finish. By mile 21 I was trying to find a landmark - thinking I was going to have to call Jane to come pick me up. My legs were just so sore. But… I just kept plugging along. There was a group of three people in my area and we all just chugged along. Once I made it to my 24 I figured I could at least break 5 hours. 

Still… for most of this race I was telling myself this was going to be it. I didn’t think my body had the strength to do this anymore. As I got closer to the end I was already starting to think “maybe this would be the last one under 5 hours.” Now, the third day after, I’m feeling back to normal and starting to think about changing my strength training over the next year to better prepare (I need to do more leg work). 

Other points of note:

• Once again, Drew Carrie were along the route about mile 3 and I discarded my jacket with them. 
• A friend of ours was also running. This was his first race since 2019, but he runs 10 miles every day. He did no other training, but was hoping to break 3 hours and qualify for Boston. He did both (2:51)! I was so happy for him (he got second place).
• Another friend (who we volunteer with at the music hall) had a son and daughter-in-law running. I was surprised to see him at the finish line. His son ran it in around 3:30, and the dil finished her first marathon in 5:11. 

So, that’s about all I can remember at the moment. I am going to include a bunch of screenshots of stats for my own future recall. 

Until then, I am enjoying a week off. I’ll likely start back next week, but no more marathon’s… until next year (maybe a few half’s). 

Five things friday (wilco, tyranny, fear-anny)

Hey-ho, and happy Friday, friends. My schedule is all discombobulated this week and... I almost forgot it was Friday! So, here we go...

1. WILCO

Yes, that pic above is from last night. We took in the Wilco concert and lemme just say... it was spectacular! Holy cow with a capital cow!

Now, not all was how I'd have liked it. The grandkids all had track meets, in two different places, and we had to hustle to make the 8pm start time. We got there a bit late for a sold out concert, and it was WALL TO WALL people! Everyone we talked to said they'd never seen such a packed house. If memory serves me, it holds around 2,000 for a standing show... and there had to be at least that last night.

We didn't even try getting close to the stage. It was just a sea of people. And, ya know, we ain't the tallest of folk... so we could hardly see anything. We stood near the back and stared at the backs of other people for a handful of songs, then Drew Carrie arrived. As luck would have it, she is friends with one of the "upstairs" servers, and she let all four of us into the private area up top. I had never been up there, and I do say, it is might nice! I kind of missed mingling with folks we knew (and there were quite a few of our church friends, as well as other friends, in attendance. Still, it was the only way we were going to be able to see.

Again... just wow. What a great show. I'd go see them again in a heartbeat.

2. BOOKS

I read Timothy Snyder's little book 'On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century' last week. Wowza! One of Jane's coworkers lent her this book, and I wasn't really all that interested in reading another political book, but I did. It took me a minute to get into it, because there's a lot about world history - and I've just never been too good with history - but it was enough to scare my socks off (yes, I am barefoot right now). And the worst part... it was written BEFORE trump's second term in office!! I mean, the fascist playbook is wide open on display... and no one is doing anything about it.

I don't know if I want to recommend anyone read this, because it will likely give you a stomach ache. It did me. 

3. SCHEDULE CHANGE

Since I have the marathon this weekend, there was no "long run" this week. I did like a 2/3/2 of easy running during the week, now I'm resting for a couple days.

Normally I do the house cleaning on Thursday, so all I have to do Friday is the long run. I decided to switch cleaning back to Friday today. My normal weekly routine is: wash the sheets, dust the upstairs, clean the kitchen counters, clean the toilets and bathrooms, mop kitchen and bathroom floors, vacuum the hallway, carpet runner, and living room floors and the couch and footstool, and whatever else stands out. I did all that today, and also decided to tackle the foul smell from the washing machine.

Every now and then I'll run one of those "cleaning" tablets through the machine, so I did that. It didn't help a whole lot. So, I did a load with four cups of vinegar, followed by a load with baking soda. It was a little better, but still not completely gone. Finally, I removed part of the agitator and the little tray for fabric softener and cleaned them in a vinegar solution. Again, it helped, but I could still smell it. So I used a vinegar, club soda, baking soda mix and tackled the top and sides of the drum and the piece of agitator that wouldn't come off. We also have a tub next to the washing machine that it drains into, and I could not believe how gross and dirty that was! So I got a putty knife and scooped out a bucket of mud-like goo from there. I *think* I may have solved the problem. I'm crossing my fingers at least.

4. THE RACE

Oh yeah... and there's the marathon coming up Sunday. Gah! Am I ready? Nope. I never am. I will say, at least this year I didn't get sick or have any mysterious aches and pains the week of. Not yet anyway. 

I don't really know how physically prepared I even am. I mean, I've done all the usual training, and didn't really have too many "bad" runs... but I just don't feel super strong, or something. I dunno.

I can say that I am NOT mentally prepared though. I'm just... not into it this year. I don't know if it's because I'm not around any other runners and don't talk to people like I used to, or what. If anything, I'm looking more forward to simply being done with it. 

I don't know... I just feel kind of weird about it this year. We'll see how it goes.

5. THE QUOTE (x2)

The rose is without 'why'

she blooms because she blooms

she does not care for herself

asks not if she is seen

- Angelus Silesius

"In short, let God's grace do with you what it wants. Let it lead you wherever it wishes. Let it work and you receive. Look on it, watch it, and leave it alone. Don't meddle with it, trying to help, as if you could assist grace. Fear that your interference could wreck everything. Instead, be the tree, and let it be the carpenter. Be the house, and let it be the homeowner living there..."

- from The Cloud of Unknowing

I shared a double quote today... or rather, snippets of two quotes. I believe neither are in their original entirety, but these two pieces were our opening contemplation at our elder meeting this past week. I like them.

And... that's all for today. Hopefully I will live to tell you about the marathon next week, otherwise... well, I guess we will have to wait and see. :)

Peace, friends.

Trip to buda & shane claiborne

 

This past weekend we made a quick trip back to the old hometown of Buda, IL. Nothing in particular, just the usual - visit with my mom, and Jane visited with a couple of her brothers.

I guess I already mentioned the storms in last Friday's post. No major damage, other than my mom had several holes punched in her siding by the hail. Otherwise, I cleaned up some dead bugs in the basement, picked up sticks in the yard, put out four bags of mulch, and wrote down several phone numbers of people to do landscaping and tree service for her. The rest of the time the two of us sat and watched NBA playoff basketball. 

Jane spent a little time Friday night with her brother Keith, went shopping with my mom Saturday morning, and then spent most of the afternoon/evening with Keith and part of the time with her brother Mark.

Both the trip there and back were without serious trouble or nuisance.

When we got back Sunday night we went to see Christian author, activist, and organizer Shane Claiborne (pictured above). It seems another lifetime when we first read his book The Irresistible Revolution (and others), and eventually started using Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.

It was a packed house at the Plymouth Congregational Church chapel. We saw several people we knew, and one other person from our church (a lot of people "meant to" go). Still, it was nice... even though we were both pretty tired.

So, it was a nice weekend. After a few chilly days, it has warmed back up to the mid-70s today...

Five things friday

 I may yet get this weeks ftf in. Depending if a tornado hits or not…

1. WEATHER

We arrived at my mom’s house late this afternoon. We had supper, and then it came. Not a tornado (yet), but wind, rain, and the largest hail I’ve ever seen. It was nuts as golf ball sized hail pelted the house and littered the lawn. It’s still storming, and sounds like more could be headed this way in the next hour, but hopefully we will survive. 

2. EIGHT MILES

This morning I did my last “long run” before the marathon next weekend. It went fine, even though I didn’t get out as early as I wanted to. I ran in my new gray Brooks Glycerin 22s which I will wear for the marathon. I did a couple 4 mile runs in them also. I will now not wear them again until the race. Next week I will just do two or three short runs. It’s always a weird week, and usually I get sick or something as my body goes into withdrawal from not running more miles. 

3. LATE NIGHT LOCAL

Last night we worked a rare Thursday night show at the music hall. The guy that hosts the Monday open mic night has been trying to put together these Third Thursday Local shows, featuring three local bands once a month. The first two were cancelled, and last night was the first. There wasn’t a great crowd, and there were a few hiccups, but overall I like what he’s trying to do. The biggest problem for most of us volunteers is that, with each band playing 45 minutes plus 15 minutes or so to change out, it made for a long night. We arrived at 6pm to set up, doors opened at 7, and the show ran from 8-11pm. That’s a long Thursday, especially for people

 like Jane who worked all day. However, still, it was not to see a lot of younger people. I like that. 

4. BEN SASSE

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Ben Sasse. He was senator from Nebraska from 2015-2023, resigning to then become the president of the University of Florida. He was recently diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer and has been getting a lot of interviews and airplay for speaking truth about some important topics. I hadn’t watched any of them until today when I watched THIS ONE. It was good stuff - even from a 

republican! I wanted to link it because I want to revisit it, and remind myself to watch some more. 

5. THE QUOTE

“Imagination means nothing without doing.” - Charlie Chaplin 

Well, there ya have it. I’m still sitting here watching the weather people work folks into a frenzy. Hopefully we all survive. 

Happy weekend!

Five things friday (first mowing)

Pat yourself on the back, friend. You did it! You made it to another Friday. Some weeks that's cause for celebration. Maybe it should be every week...

1. THE FIRST MOWING

I could probably look back through my archives to see if it's so... but this seems like a fairly early "first mowing" for me. I know the past few years I have waited until after the Spring marathon (which is the last Sunday in April). Yet, the backyard grass was pretty long, so I mowed yesterday.

I dug the mower out of its winter hibernation spot, siphoned the gas out of the snow blower into the mower, raised the deck as high as it would go, and... the ol' girl started on the first pull once again! 

One of these days I should change the oil, sharpen the blade, and I need to replace the cable that goes to the carburetor... however, I intended to do those things all last year too and never quite got around to any of them. So, I guess it's mowing season...

2. TWELVE MILES IS DANGEROUS

My "long run" today was 12 miles. I say it's dangerous because... it's kinda easy to take runs of that distance for granted sometimes. Like, "Oh, it's just 12 miles this week. That'll be a piece of cake!" Yet... inevitably, I'll get to mile 3 or 4 and think... "Geesh, I hope I can make it to 12 miles!" It's still a significant distance. 

Anyway... I made it. It was an overcast upper 50s to lower 60s with a bit of a drizzle here and there. Once again I used my marathon strategy of every 3 miles walking while I took in a GU gel and a couple drinks of water.

Btw... my NEW WATCH DID ARRIVE this week! Yesterday. It's just like my old one. Except I used to have it set to show distance, elapsed time, and pace... and instead it showed distance, elapsed time, and running speed. I didn't want to mess with it during the run, but quickly got it set right afterward.

3. MEN'S GROUP RESURRECTION AND DOING WHAT I WANT

We had our monthly men's group this morning. Usually it's the first Friday of the month at 6am. Since last week was Good Friday, we pushed it back a week. I'm not sure why they changed the start time to 6:25, but I still barely made it in time. Anyway...

There were about 20 guys there today, and we discussed Wendell Berry's 'Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front' (with 2 Corinthians 5:17 for context - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"). Go ahead and click the link to read the whole poem. It's one of my favorites of all times.

We were all asked to share what stood out to us. I mentioned how I felt like the first paragraph sort of represents the "algorithm" for society... and the rest is how to break the algorithm. Also, in light of the resurrection context, it's like... "I can do whatever I want now." I wish now I'd explained that better, because I think some people could misunderstand and think I mean I could do just any ol' thing I wanted. What I meant was... Since I'm now a new creation, I no longer have to sin. I'm no longer bound by society's expectations. I can CHOOSE to do the right thing... that which I want to do! But... I didn't share that. Oh well. That's what I meant...

4. TREE OF FORGIVENESS

One thing I'd wanted to do this year was be more intentional about listening to music. I thought maybe each day I could listen to one song, or something. I haven't exactly done that, but I do at least listen to music when I clean the house each Thursday, and I will occasionally listen to a song here and there.

Today I decided to play an album (yes, an actual record album) while I wrote this. I chose John Prine's 'The Tree of Forgiveness.' It was his 18th and final studio album before he died. It came out in April 2018, and he died in April 2020. My favorite song on this one is likely 'Summer's End.' I dare you to click the link and watch the video and not cry... 

I also liked this short 6-minute video of an interview called 'The Road to The Tree of Forgiveness.' Damn, I liked John Prine...

5. THE QUOTE

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

- (the last paragraph of Wendell Berry's 'Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front')

And... there ya have it. The end of yet another week. Tonight I'll be bartending a show by myself, while my lovely lady takes tickets. At least it should be a good one (Albert Cummings). 

Peace, friends.

Five things friday (holy, twenty, ready)

Happy Friday, friends. For those so inclined... happy Good Friday! (If you're not so inclined, I hope it's still a good Friday).

1. HOLY WEEK

Yes, today is Good Friday in the Christian tradition. This used to be my favorite week in the church year when I was pastoring, and beyond. In fact, I fully intended to share my daily 'David Gilmour Holy Week Liturgy' this year again... But, for those of you who follow me on the Facebook, you have obviously noticed I did not. Such is life...

I did start work on turning that liturgy into an e-book devotional sometime last year. One of these days I will follow through (I'd like to say 'I promise,' but... you know how that goes. I do still intend to).

Anyhew, I have not attended or participated in any holy week activities at all. Normally I would have attended the Y Good Friday breakfast today, but I was otherwise occupied on this day...

2. TWENTY MILES

I did my 20 mile run this morning. While I missed out on a scrumptious breakfast (above), I knew I would not feel like running afterward. Instead, I headed out just after 8am and got done running - plus a half mile walk - right around noon.

Let's just say I'm glad it is done. Most of you know, 20 miles is the farthest I run before a marathon. Now I start to taper back on miles for the next few weeks.

If you read yesterday's post you know my GPS watch crapped out, and I was planning to just not use GPS because I'm familiar enough with my route to figure out 20 miles fairly accurately. Well, the recent rains and resulting flooding kind of put a damper (badum bum) on that. My normal route is partially under water. So, I ended up borrowing Jane's GPS watch today. She can thank me later for putting her "longest run" on it. ;)

I was almost able to stretch it to 4 hours with the half mile walk at the end, which is what I wanted to do. Still, it was somewhat of a chore. The temps were okay - mid-60s - but it was pretty damp and humid. And, to make matters worse, I ate 7/8th of a box of stinking cheezits last night after supper! I couldn't stop myself! Geez, and I know better. I was not feeling the greatest this morning, and this run was much worse than the 19 miler. I started walking a tenth of every mile at 14, and then I walked a quarter of the last two miles (hoping to stretch the time out further). 

I also changed my clothes at the 12-mile mark. Everything. Hat, shirt, shorts, and socks. Not only was I drenched in sweat, but my left nipple started bleeding through my shirt. I ran in the downpour on Wednesday and even though it was only 5 miles, I wore sore spots on both nipples. I applied 2Toms Sport Shield this morning, but I guess it wasn't enough. It didn't help that I had on a light blue top ("Look, my nipples bleeding!!"). 

Anyway... I survived. And my body is ready for a reduction in mileage.

3. MARATHON READINESS

As for the upcoming marathon... I guess I'm ready for that too... I guess. Mostly I'm ready for it to be over with. Which is probably not a good mindset to have.

My body feels "okay." I don't really have any injuries, no blisters, I haven't had to use tape or anything on my feet... But I'm worn out. Which, I know, is how it's supposed to be. Now I have the next few weeks for my body to heal before the actual event. I've probably felt worse than this in years past.

More than how I feel physically, though, is the mental drain. This is maybe the least excited I've been about running a marathon. I think part of it is simply not having anyone I talk about running with (other than Jane). I know it's nobody's fault but mine - I choose to run alone, and I'm just not a "social athlete." I assume it will improve as my body begins feeling better. I'm just feeling like a beat up old haggard right now though... 

4. FINAL FOUR

Well, somehow my Illini made it to the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I was not able to watch their last game (actually, I think I've only seen one game all year, maybe one and a half), and I won't be watching this one either. It's mostly because I was bartending both last Saturday night and again this coming... Yet, even if I wasn't, I'm not sure I would watch anyway. Part of me fears I might jinx them - because my mind works like that. The other part... man... since I've given up being such a die-hard sports fanatic... I think I've been a better person. I'm sure it's good for my blood pressure and general stress to simply not watch. I can still read about it and watch highlights afterward if I want. Or... pretty much like I've been doing... I can just... not. Just the basic game recap, and maybe a few clips and articles here and there... and I'm good.

Still, I hope the Illini win. UConn is beatable (even though they beat us early in the year). Michigan, on the other hand, looks unstoppable. And I don't like them! I am indifferent to Arizona, although I hear their coach is currently in talks with another school because he's had it with the higher ups there. It would be a little funny if they won the National Championship, and then lost their coach. But... it would be better for ALL OF US if Illinois just won it! ;)

5. THE QUOTE

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    - Paul, Romans 5:7

 

Alrighty then... I think I'ma gonna have a cup of tea, take a nap, and maybe do some more reading in Slow Theology...

If I don't see ya before... have a HAPPY EASTER!

Watch out

I guess this is now my "running watch." No GPS, no mileage, no pace, no app... just the time (and the date, which I now see is not set correctly). I've had it since 2021, and before that had one just like it from 2009. It has lasted longer than 2 1/2 years.

The Garmin Forerunner 45 that I bought in October 2023... not so much. It died a rather untimely death this past Tuesday. Actually, just the band. However, as it would happen, with this model of Garmin, if the band breaks, the whole watch becomes useless. Nice design flaw.

Immediately I got online to see if there was some way to fix it. Nope. Several sites pointed me to the Garmin Support site where some people said it may be possible to get a replacement for free. Unfortunately, what they meant was, you can supposedly get a replacement for $99. I went ahead and paid it, sent the broken watch via UPS so they will hopefully send me the replacement ASAP... yet, when I go on the Garmin website... I see that the Forerunner 45 is DISCONTINUED. 

Well, isn't that just swell...

I was hoping to have a new actual GPS watch for my 20-mile run this Friday. Now I just hope to have ...something... by the marathon at the end of April.

Fortunately, I have run all my training miles for this marathon on the same stretch of roughly 6 miles of trail, so I have a fair degree of confidence knowing exactly where I'm at mileage-wise and how far I've run. Still, it's not ideal.

I probably should have just gotten a different model of watch (if not a different brand). I liked the Forerunner 45, though, for it's simplicity. I don't want anything fancier than time, distance, pace and such. Although, I had started using it to keep track of my heart rate, stress level, body battery, and sleep. I'd still like those things too, I guess. But that's it. Plus, I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for something to wear on my wrist. But... I would like it to last a bit longer than 2 1/2 years...

So, all that said, and I'm still just sitting here with nothing but my old Timex watch. I'd say this is a "first-world problem"... but I'm not entirely sure we live in a "first-world" country anymore...