Marathon Day

I did it! I ran a marathon! It took me 5 hours and 8 minutes (roughly). By the time I was done it was close to 90 degrees and the Marathon course had been closed because of the high temperatures. Fortunately, they let us finish but encouraged us to walk. Ice and water and the incredibly faithful support of Cindy and Hollis, Julie and Avis, Martha and Marcella, Lois, Chuck and Jean, the Ono family, Paul and Cindy, Ed, Tami, Grace and Ben, and LuAnn and so many others carried me through. It was an incredibly tough but exhilerating experience. As soon as I entered the chute for final two or three blocks of the race I almost began hyperventilating with the emotion of the day. I ended strong and proud of my accomplishment and so grateful for all of the support I've received along the way.

The first 13 miles or so of the race I managed to stick with the pace group that would have completed the race in 4:45. That's a pace of 10:53 per mile. When I reached the 13 mile mark I was 2:22 into the race and the temperature was really starting to climb. Unfortunately, shortly after that the course took us around Warner Park and along Sherman Ave. where there was little to no shade and lots of pavement and traffic. I really started to feel tough as I could feel my body temperature rising. It was a struggle to keep going. No amount of water was enough during this stretch and it was toward the end of that time that they closed the course and started to encourage people to walk. I did take many more walk breaks than I might have otherwise but I was determined to finish the race as strongly as possible.

Hollis and Cindy stuck with me throughout the race and were so incredibly helpful getting me ice and gu and water and encouragement right when I needed it. I truly couldn't have done this without them and also without Julie and all the other supporters who seemed to show up at just the right time to cheer and shout words of encouragement. It was an incredible experience of the community of love and support that surrounds me and that was invested in this effort. I am humbled and grateful.

My favorite radio program is "This American Life" and I had decided to download an episode of this program to my MP3 player to listen to during the race. When I went to the website I discovered that one of their most recent shows was titled "Island Time" and was a series of stories about life in Haiti after the earthquake. How perfect! And so as I approached 3:30 into the race I turned on my MP3 player to listen to this program. It was so well done - thoughtful and interesting. They had an in-depth report of the challenges of trying to navigate the complex network of Haitian government organizations and NGOs and Haitian culture and history in order to provide support to the Haitian people that would empower them and actually be helpful. I found the reporting sensitive and insightful. It was really wonderful to listen to this program for an hour of my run and remember that although I was struggling for a few hours to complete a challenge it was a challenge I chose and it had a specific ending point.

There is no specific ending point to the struggles and challenges of life in Haiti. The opportunity to raise money through this marathon effort to support people in Haiti that I've met and that I know are doing good things with the funds we provide to them fills me with gratitude and also humility. I lift up prayers every day to the people in Haiti who are trying with such faithfulness and ingenuity and hope for their country to make a difference for the good and I feel honored to be a small part of this work. I also pray for all the people around the world who with generally honorable intentions are involved in Haiti also trying to do good. I pray for humility, compassion and the wisdom needed to do as much good as possible. Thank you all for your generous support of this effort and for lifting me and the people of Haiti in your prayers. Soon, I will be able to report how much money was raised for Haiti through this effort and properly thank all of you for coming along on this journey with me.

I do believe I have been carried through this effort by God and by all the people who gave money to Haiti Partners MCC in honor of this effort and who have offered prayers and words of encouragement along the way. I owe a major debt of gratitude to Dr. Dawn at Pro Health Chiropractic who was instrumental in keeping my body healthy and to Kristen at Orange Show Gym for being my personal trainer and fan. And last but certainly not least, I am so grateful to my dear, sweet Cindy who put up with all these hours of training and who was right there every moment when I needed her and when I didn't. She is the best partner a girl could ask for. Thank you.

Amen.

Ready for the Race

It's friday afternoon before Sunday's marathon. I've completed my final run - 2 miles yesterday morning - and my final cross training class - Push-N-Pull at the Orange Shoe Gym this morning. Now I rest and carbo load. I'm ready and getting excited about the actual race.

It's been amazing to receive all of the encouragement and support that has come my way in the past week. So many people have wished me well, said they'll be thinking of me on Sunday, expressed their pride in this effort, shared promises to appear along the route or hold me in prayer on that day. I wonder if my feet will even touch the ground I feel so held up by the wonderful community of folks that surrounds me and has contributed to this effort in a wide variety of ways. Thank you all!

If you're planning to show up along the race route, which you can find at www.madisonfestivals.com you will know it's me by looking for the bright yellow hat. On the front the hat says "Runnin 4 Haiti" and on the back it says "runnin Rev." I have Cindy to thank for this wonderful surprise. She's such a sweetheart.

Thank you all for supporting me in this effort but thank you even more for supporting the people of Haiti through Haiti Partners MCC. The road to recovery for the people of Haiti is long and complicated and I will continue to find ways to promote the small but somehow significant efforts of the Madison Christian Community's Haiti Partners Ministry. Please remember on Sunday to not only pray for me and encourage me but also to pray for the people of Haiti and for all of the people from all over the world who are somehow involved in or connected to Haiti for better and for worse. Let us pray for the best possible good to be done in every situation.

Until after the race...

Tisha

Weeks 13 & 14

Well, I did it. On Saturday, May 8th I successfully completed the 20 mile run. It took me 3 hours and 45 minutes. The popular thinking in training for a marathon is that if you can run 20 miles then you can certainly run 26.2. After getting this long awaited milestone under my belt I do believe that since I did run 20 miles I will certainly be able to run 26.2 miles.

I was initially really nervous about running this distance. I wondered, how would I get enough water, what if I needed a bathroom, how long would it take, what would I feel like after it was over, what if I got injured 10 miles from home, how would I occupy my mind for that whole distance? Early in the week prior to the run I was having really strange dreams clearly stemming from my anxiety. But then I had some friends loan me their camel back and I decided on a route and I downloaded some stuff from NPR, watched what I ate that week to minimize abdominal stress and by Saturday morning I was ready to take the plunge.

I actually really enjoyed this run. I took my time. I heard some cool stories on the radio and listened to some great music. The temperature was pretty cool but I was comfortable most of the time as long as I kept my gloves and ear muffs on and it only started spitting rain toward the end. I took a couple of short walking breaks to get my mid-run nutrition in and I really think those walk breaks made the run more successful in the end. I'll definitely be doing that for my nutrition stops during the marathon itself. I can't even describe the feelings of accomplishment and pride that rushed over me after finishing this run. I can't wait for the actual marathon now!

Earlier today I looked back at my first post way back in February when I started this adventure and remembered again how fresh and painful the news of Haiti's earthquake was at that time. I recalled having hopes that by now there would be significant progress in the recovery efforts but I'm afraid that everything I've read and seen indicates that while some things have gotten better and some rebuilding is taking place things in Haiti are very dire and serious.

One of the bloggers I follow said in a recent post that Haitian farmers are having a hard time selling their crops because there is so much free food available to the people of Haiti from government relief efforts that they don't buy food if they don't have to. This is obviously not sustainable and re-creates a culture of dependency that is not healthy for Haiti's long term growth. What a complicated situation - people don't have money or jobs or resources and to survive they need help but the very help they receive causes hardship for others and ultimately ends up being detrimental. It seems every knot that gets untangled reveals another knot somewhere along the line.

At the same time, I have also heard and read amazing stories of ingenuity, creativity and community that are touching and hopeful including the story of a nurse from Haiti who came to Madison to learn basic surgical skills from a local surgeon so he could take those skills back home to help more people and to train other nurses. I guess the best thing to do is pray and trust and focus on doing the few small things we can do through our Haiti Partners ministry to support the wisdom and dreams of our Haitian partners as they rebuild their lives on a small scale. Will we know when or if we've gone too far, when our efforts have crossed the line between support and dependence? I pray we will and that if that happens we will act responsibly to restore balance and integrity to our work.

I've been memorizing Psalm 148. It was on the lectionary a few weeks ago and really caught my attention. I've decided to memorize the whole thing so that I have two Psalms to focus on during the marathon. Psalm 148 is a song of praise and gratitude for all the ways God has helped and guided God's people. It reminds me to be thankful even for the rain that made last weeks short runs less than enjoyable and to look around me to see how all of creation, by its mere existence, is praising God. It is in God's creativity and power and ability to make a way out of no way that I surrender to when I get worried about Haiti or about the oil spill or the wars or my own particular life challenges. This doesn't excuse my responsible action but it does take the burden off my shoulders - I'm not alone, God is in it, too and God is amazing!

Psalm 148
Praise God!
Praise God, from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!
Praise God all you angels;
Praise God all you host!

Praise God sun and moon
Praise God all you shining start
Praise God you highest heavens
and you waters above the heavens!

Praise the name of God,
for God commanded and you were created.
God established you forever and ever;
God fixed your bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise God from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling God's command!

Mountains and all hills
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!

Let them praise the name of God
for God's name alone is exalted;
God's glory is above earth and heaven.
God has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all her faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to God.
Praise God!

Week 12

I can hardly believe that I'm in my final month of my training for the Madison Marathon! This past Sunday I ran 18 miles and give great good thanks to my friend Deborah and to Cindy for riding along with me and talking me through the 3 hours and 21 minutes it took me to go this far.



This was by far the hardest run I've done so far in terms of how I felt when it was done. It's taking me much longer this time to recover to the point where I'm walking without pain our stiffness. But thanks to my chiropractor, Dr. Dawn at Pro Health Chiropractic in Sun Prairie, and lots of time spent with a foam roller (my new best friend) and stretching, I'm feeling much better today (Wednesday).



This coming Saturday I run 12, the week after that it's the famed 20 mile run, then another 12 and then it's time to taper down for the race. I still find it hard to believe that I'm actually going to do this. I also am somewhat amazed that every week I eventually get to the point where I'm LOOKING FORWARD (?) to that long run. It's crazy but there it is. I like doing this and I still can't believe I can say that.



This week I decided to memorize Psalm 23. I wanted to have at least one complete Psalm under my belt as a resource for the marathon itself but also just to have some scripture memorized for the times in life when words of scripture running through my mind might come in handy.



I've also been thinking that even though my marathon training is winding down the people of Haiti have only really just begun the marathon of recovery and rebuilding. I pray that all who have followed these efforts of mine will continue to remember to send good thoughts to Haiti, to the people of that nation, their government and to all of the world community that is involved in that country. I pray we involve ourselves with humility, with a desire to cooperate and share resources with one another and with as few of our own agendas on the table as possible.



And so I pray Psalm 23 for myself and also with the people of Haiti in mind.



You, O God, are my shepherd, I shall not want.

You make me lie down in green meadows;

You lead me beside still waters;

You restore my soul.

You lead me in right paths for your name's sake.



Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no evil;

for you are with me

your rod and your staff they comfort me.



You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Amen.

Weeks 10 & 11

Cindy and I have been on vacation for the past two weeks. We traveled to Germany to visit friends we've met over the years. We were in Freiburg in southwestern Germany for 4 days with Martin and Ursula and in and around Bonn and Cologne for 5 days with Wiebke, Udo and Katrin. In order to stay on track with my marathon training I did training runs in Freiburg, Bonn, Monchen-Gladbach and Dusseldorf. My long run for that week was a 17-miler, which I ran along the Rhein river in Bonn. Cindy and Katrin rode their bicycles along with me for the 3 hours and 10 minutes it took me to run that far and Katrin ran the last 3 miles with me, which was great for my motivation. I felt great when we finished that run and continue to be amazed that I'm actually doing these runs at all.

The greatest adventure of my running efforts in Germany was the morning I got lost in downtown Freiburg. I was trying to get in an 8 mile run and I took a few too many twists and turns and couldn't retrace my steps. Fortunately, I had the address and region of the city where I was staying written down on a piece of paper so that the people I asked for help were able to steer me in the right direction. Miraculously, I arrived back at Martin and Ursuala's just as my GPS unit indicated 8 miles. I was really proud of myself for remaining calm in an unfamiliar place despite a language barrier and no identification or money to take a cab or make a phone call. I learned an important lesson, too, about running in unfamiliar places - always take a little money, a phone number and your passport just in case!

When I got home I found an email from Bryan Sirchio with links to some videos showing the efforts that have been underway in Cite Soleil to rebuild the Community School of Cite Soleil. Funds that we've collected through Haiti Partners, MCC were used to help with the rebuilding of the school so I'm including the link to those videos in case you're interested in seeing how your support of my marathon efforts is being used. Thank you, again from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support for me but most importantly for the people of Haiti. Here's the link:
http://www.haitipartners.org/2010/04/school-in-session-cite-soleil-community-school/ (You may have to cut and paste this into your browser since I'm not technologically advanced enough to actually make it into a link!)

This past Saturday, my long run was only 13 miles so I planned to just run through the Arboretum twice and add a final mile on at the end. As I ran through this Madison treasure I realized how grateful I am to live in such a beautiful place and to have such a wonderful, peaceful, amazing place to run in and enjoy year round. While I ran and enjoyed the beautiful spring morning I chanted these words:

"You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever." (Psalm 30:11-12)

As I meditated on this text I realized that the process of training for this marathon has awakened something in me - a level of confidence, a sense of joy, a desire to give thanks and praise for the wonders of my body and the beauty of the world in which I live and move, run and breathe. As I enter the decade of my 40s in the best shape of my life and with a growing sense that if I can run 26.2 miles on May 30 I can just about do anything, I am looking forward to continuing to see what God has in store for me and my life.

Thanks be to you, O God, for this amazing, beautiful world in which we live - Madison and Germany, Aruba and Haiti and so many other wonderful places. Thanks be to you, O God, for the joy of running and training and learning and growing. Thanks be to you, O God, for the love and care of so many bringing hope and new life to the children of the Community School of Cite Soleil, to their families and the wider community. Thanks be to you, O God, for life and for love. Amen.

Week 9

This week I watched an episode of Frontline on PBS called "The Quake." It aired on Tuesday, March 30 and gave a pretty good description of the events and dynamics that surrounded the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. I highly recommend watching this show - you can access it on Frontline's website - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/

Frontline and Planet Money and the BBC are all doing their best to keep Haiti in the news and to cover what is happening there honestly and fairly. I've appreciated their efforts so far. Of course, as my friend Bryan reminded me, there are always parts of the story that don't get told, those things that the governments or the corporations don't want us to know. As with all things it's best to get the news and information from multiple sources if possible in order to get a well rounded picture of what is happening and how we can be voices for justice in an unjust world.

This week's long run was 16 miles. When I finished it I wanted to shout out to anyone within ear shot "I JUST RAN 16 MILES! I felt great - sore and tired and achy, of course, but emotionally great, so proud of myself I could hardly stop grinning. When I got home I gave Cindy a big hug and got tears in my eyes. I still can't believe I ran that far. It took me 2 hours and 56 minutes. And, to top it all off, I also feel like a made a new friend. LuAnn, a woman I've been running with on Saturday mornings for the past few weeks and who is a much stronger runner than I am, accompanied me on 11 of my 16 miles. I really enjoyed our conversations and talking with her made the run go by really fast. I'm very grateful to her for sticking with me.

Next Saturday, it's a 17 mile run and I'll be in Germany. The plan is to run along the Rhein River. I can't wait!

The Prophet Isaiah said: "For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered or come to mind." Indeed, on this Easter Sunday and every day a new heavens and a new earth are being created by our loving God if only we have eyes to see, ears to hear and the will to choose new life.

And so, new heavens and a new earth are possible for Haiti and they are possible for those who take risks and try new things and they are possible for everyone who chooses to embrace hope and possibility. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Week 8

I had an appointment with my personal trainer on Monday. I weighed in and she took all my measurements. It's been about 6 weeks since the last set of measurements and in that 6 weeks I lost 3 pounds, 3% body fat and at least 1/2 inch on every measurement - chest, hips, stomach, thigh, shoulders. It was a remarkable expereince to see these results after struggling so hard to lose weight and then keep it off over the past 10 years. I've worked hard to change my attitudes and habits when it comes to exercise and food. This week's weigh-in and measurement was a wonderful confirmation of all the hard work. Even though I know some of the weight and inches might come back on when I go back to my more normal work out routines, it still feels good to be so lean and trim. I feel really good in my body, which is a great motivation for trying to keep it that way.

I am convinced that bodies matter to God and that faith isn't just about our heads and our hearts. Our bodies are a gift through which we experience the world and with which we can also experience God and God's presence. I believe we can praise God with our bodies if we choose to by dancing, running, moving, stretching and by giving thanks for the wonder and mystery, the simplicity and the complexitiy of the body in which we move through life.

When I'm running I am in my body in ways that I rarely am at any other time in my day. I am conscious of my breath, my arms and legs, my core, I'm paying attention to the world around me and I'm digging deep, especially at the end of these long runs, to find the strength, the endurance to keep going. With every breath I imagine and rely on God's presence as my companion, as a cheerleader as one who doesn't really care how fast or how far I run but who rejoices in the joy I find in my newly developed abilities and strengths. I know that this marathon training is a time when I'm not only training my body but also my mind and my spirit to endure, to face challenges with courage, to take risks, to be in the moment and give thanks for the simple ability to put one foot in front of the other. It is a privilege to be able to do what I'm doing and for that privilege and for all that it's teaching me about life and faith I give thanks.

I read a blog post this past week from a doctor who is working in Haiti. She told a harrowing story of trying to gain entry to the Miami Field hospital with a little girl who was septic and needed emergency surgery. The guard at the gate at 2:00 in the morning decided the hospital was "closed" and wouldn't let them in until the white doctor showed her face and pleaded for the little girl's life. He said he let them in because she was white. The doctor commented that this is one of the sad realities of life in Haiti - those with white skin get better treatment and in some cases Haitians in positions of power use that power to oppress and belittle their own country men and women. The story is so much more powerful in her own words - here is the link to her blog: http://barbieboots.blogspot.com/2010/03/injustice.html It is so important, in my opinion, to hear these stories and grow in understanding and compassion for the complex realities on the ground in Haiti.

Until next week.

Week 7

"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like a people who dream.


Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy.


Then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them.


The Lord has done great things for us and we rejoice." (Psalm 126:1-3)





This was the part of Psalm 126 that I carried with me as I ran this past week. I think this Psalm comes out of the time when Israel was in exile and longing to be restored to her land. As I was running, I thought about what it must be like to be exiled from one's home, removed from that place of safety and security against one's will and forced to live in some other place not of one's choosing. I can imagine that after a while it's hard to dream when you live in exile. I can imagine that the longer the exile continues the harder it is to remember what it was like before and the harder it is also to imagine any kind of hopeful future.





I wondered if this Psalm was written while the people were still in exile or if it was written after they were allowed to return to their homes. Was it written in celebration of something that had already happened or was it written to inspire hope and faithfulness in those who were continuing to live in exile with no end in sight?





Either way, I imagine these words were helpful to the people who sang them and held them in their hearts. It will be possible to dream again. The Lord has not left us completely but will or has restored our fortunes. Maybe the people were able to laugh and shout with joy even in the midst of their time of exile. Maybe they could find things to be happy about and to give thanks to God for even if some of their physical circumstances were less than ideal. I hope this is so.





As I was musing about Israel and her time of exile I started also thinking about the people of Haiti and realized that in some ways many Haitian people have been living in exile since the earthquake. They are still in their country but their homes and so much of what they relied on is destroyed, no longer part of their day to day reality. Where are they finding hope? Are they finding the strength and the imagination to be able to dream of a future not marked by the challenges of living without a home? Or, are the day to day struggles simply to stay alive draining all of their energy and creativity?





I don't know the answer to these questions but I pray that somehow in the midst of all this loss and chaos and ongoing threat of further disaster as the rainy season quickly approaches and people still don't have adequate shelter that the people of Haiti are finding ways to continue to dream, to still be able to laugh and rejoice, in some way. I pray these words from Psalm 126 as I run and I dream of a day when Haiti will be a strong, independent, just and peaceful nation. Maybe if they can't dream right now it will help if those of us who live relatively easy, stable lives can dream and hope for them and on their behalf.





I dedicate all my hours of running, all the sweat and muscle aches and moments when I can't imagine taking another step to Haiti. I am developing the ability to dream of what it will be like to run 26.2 miles. I am developing the mental and physical and spiritual strength needed to make my way through this test of endurance. I pray for Haiti's marathon of recovery and hope that each day she grows in mental, physical and spiritual strength and that every day that the compassion of those who are helping with the recovery along with their desire to be partners in the recovery and not dictators of it wins out over exhaustion, judgment, paternalism and fatalism.





When the Lord restored the fortunes of Haiti, we were like a people who dream.


Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy.


Then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them.


The Lord has done great things, and we rejoiced.

Week 6

When we left Madison for Aruba a little over two weeks ago it was still winter. The day we got on the plane it was 6 degrees at 5:30 a.m. When we arrived home from our trip the weather had changed from winter to pre-Spring. The temperatures this week have been in the 40s and it's been raining but what a joyful shift from below freezing.

This morning I ran 13 miles, which is the farthest I have ever run or even imagined I might run in my life. I only began running two years ago and it still blows my mind how many miles I've put on since then and how good I feel about what I'm doing. It's amazing what can change in two year!

Since I began this marathon training program on the first of February I have run in just about every possible weather situation. In February I did 4 miles in a snowstorm - one of those blustery, cold and dry storms with high winds and tiny sharp flakes of snow. "This is good," I thought, "once I make it through this I can make it through anything." "Nothing can stop me now."

Last week in Aruba I ran in very hot temperatures with some humidity. I sweat like I've never sweat before in my life. I reminded myself that it's entirely possible for the day of the race at the end of May to be incredibly hot, in fact three years ago they had to call off the Madison Marathon because of the heat. So, I decided that it was good that I had at least one week of runs in hot temperatures to remember the importance of keeping hydrated and to remember the feeling of running in the heat. (This is easy to forget in Wisconsin in the winter!)

This morning I conquered yet another weather challenge - it was a chilly 40 degree morning with wind and rain! Again, it's entirely possible for May 30th to dawn and for this to be the forecast for the day. You never know what Spring will bring in Wisconsin.

So, I think I've run in every possible weather condition and I know that no matter what I can keep going. It's good to know that the weather, although it may make the race less pleasant, will not stop me from running and doing my very best. In fact, there is a greater sense of accomplishment for me in gutting it out in the cold or the heat or the rain than running only when it's sunny and warm.

I am learning through this process to take the weather as it comes, to not let it keep me from doing what I want to do. I am also challenging myself to find the good in every weather situation even if that good is that it tested me and I was up to the test.

There were good elements to the run this morning besides just finishing it. The earth smells fresh and clean, the birds are singing away and there are so many more of them, and it's very clear that spring is on its way. After three months of cold and dark this is good news no matter how hard it rains or how cold the spring winds blow.

Speaking of the cold and rain, I have noticed this week that all of the global community's and the Haitian government's efforts to shelter the people of Haiti before the coming rainy season have largely been in vain. Too many people are still living in makeshift tents in camps without adequate sanitation. I fear a second disaster, this time one of disease and flooding. What is the holdup? Why aren't people at least getting tents or temporary houses?

And so this too puts my running into a different perspective. I choose to go out, with adequate clothing and gear, to run in the cold and the rain. When I finish that run I know I have a warm and comfortable home to return to, plumbing, a hot shower, dry clothes. No matter how uncomfortable I get on the run, that discomfort ends easily as soon as I head for home. But people who are living under blankets strung up with pieces of rope and tied to who knows what don't have anywhere to go to get dry and warm when it rains. This is wrong. It's a tragedy. It's why I'm so glad I am Running for Haiti.

Please pray for the Haitian people, for their government, for all who are trying to do the right thing. Let us cry out to God for justice on their behalf. And let us each do what we can for them and for all the other people in need in our city, in our country and around the world. God expects nothing less from us, we should expect nothing less from ourselves.

Week 5

O God, you are my God I seek you
My soul thirsts for you
my flesh faints for you
as in a dry and weary land
where there is no water (Psalm 63:1)

On Monday, March 1 Cindy and I arrived in Aruba, which is a very hot and dry island just off the northern coast of Venezuela. The greatest blessing of Aruba's climate is the constant breeze, which makes the heat much more tolerable than it would be otherwise. The language of Aruba is Papamiento, which is a blend of Spanish and Dutch and probably other influences as well. The main industries of Aruba are tourism and Aloe manufacturing. We contributed to both while we were there!

Tuesday morning we got up by 6:00 a.m. So that I could for for a run. Our friends took us to a network of trails that snaked along the windward coast of the island starting at a beautiful, tiny Catholic chapel. I ran my easy 3 miles along a very rocky trail into the wind as the sun was coming up. When I dared look up from watching my feet, I thje jagged shoreline with waves crashing relentlessly as the sun climbed in the sky was breathtaking. The vegetation was primarily cacti and other prickly desert plants and the native island Divi Divi trees..

The rest of the day was spent at Moomba Beach where we played in the water and sat on beach chairs in the shade and tried really hard not to get burnt to a crisp with so much of our pale winter skin exposed to the hot, hot sun. We did a really good job on the sunburn front - no major burns to speak of due to faithful application and re-application of copious amounts of sunscreen – SPF 50.

I woke up early again on Wednesday morning to run a 5 mile tempo run. My first mile was great! I ran it in 9:30 and the second mile in 9:40 (which is really fast for me). But then I had to turn around at the 2.5 mile point and lo and behold I had been running with the wind! The last 2.5 miles were tough but I managed to squeak it out and finished just over my hoped for time. Looking back now I know I didn't drink enough water during or after that run. I had only brought a tiny 6 oz bottle to carry as I ran and I know I kept sweating for at least an hour after the run as I sat out on the balcony and ate my breakfast and chatted with Cindy and our friends. Then another day at the beach.

Thursday was a day to rest from running but we spent another full day at the beach with very little water and by Thursday night I was starting to feel a little strange. After dinner, some Gatorade and a lot of water I was feeling a little better so I woke up on Friday morning for another 5 mile run, this one at an easy pace. I don't remember ever sweating this much in my life!

By Friday late afternoon I was not feeling right at all. We made a last minute decision to go to a clinic with some concern about heat exhaustion and to make sure I was doing the right things – drinking water and Gatorade and eating regular meals. Unfortunately, the doctor at the clinic had left for the day and so they sent us to the Emergency Room. After being in the Emergency Room for 3 hours or so, I was starting to feel better. But, since we were in a strange country and I really didn't want to be sick for the last few days of vacation we stuck it out to see the doctor just in case there was something I should do that we weren't thinking of. Once the Dr. heard I hadn't been vomiting or having diarrhea he said “there's nothing I can do for you” and left the exam room. Even if that was true, it wasn't how I hoped to be treated as a worried tourist in a strange, very hot and very dry place. Fortunately, by the time I went to bed I was certain the worst had passed.

Saturday was my 40th birthday. I enjoyed a relaxed morning and a 3 hour spa afternoon with my honey complete with jacuzzi, steam room, exfoliating scrub, massage, manicure and lunch and plenty of WATER! It was luxurious and followed by a delicious evening meal at a sushi restaurant.

I ran my Saturday morning run, a mere 6 miles, on a treadmill in the workout room at the resort where we were staying and drank so much water and Gatorade after it I though I was going to burst my stomach.

I now have a whole new appreciation for heat and for the importance of hydration. At home, running throughout the winter I have hardly given hydration a thought. There have even been some runs where I realized much later that I didn't drink any water at all. But, this week of running in the sun and heat has taught me an important lesson and I am really glad to be learning this lesson BEFORE marathon day. I have already vowed to be much more conscientious, especially when running in unfamiliar places where the temperature hovers in the 80s and 90s all the time.

The authors of the Psalms knew the type of climate and temperature I experienced this past week. They knew what it was to be thirsty, to feel weak and in dire need of hydration. They knew the life giving properties of water and they knew that lack of water was a death sentence. My experience this past week with getting a little dehydrated in a hot and dry climate has given me a new appreciation for the imagery of this Psalm. It is very scary to feel sick from a lack of water.

As Psalm 63 continues, it is very clear that this psalm is a love song to God. A song of appreciation, adoration and gratitude and a prayer that reminds us that God's presence is to our souls like water is to our bodies. Without it we do not and cannot live. In the case of water, we literally cannot live without water. In the case of God we cannot and do not live and thrive spiritually without God's presence. Our dry and thirsty souls need God's quenching love and presence. They yearn for God and God yearns for us as in a dry and weary land. For water that keeps the body healthy and strong and for God's love that hydrates the weary soul I give great thanks this day. Amen.

Week 4

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

It is not easy to see the goodness of God in the land of the living at the end of February in Wisconsin, at least not in the natural world. By this time of year the bloom is off the rose on the landscape of winter. The snow is dirty, the trees remain leafless, and everything else seems lifeless. The yearning to see signs of new life in the coming of spring grows stronger with every passing day. The goodness of God is not readily apparent but I have faith that it is there if we only know where and how to look.

This week's 11 miles training run took me from my house towards Lake Mendota and on from there to downtown Madison before I turned and headed back toward home. As I was running along the lakeshore path that skirts Lake Mendota and wondering about seeing the goodness of God I remembered something a gardener friend told me. He said that some of the most important growth for plants and trees happens at this time of the year. Under the ground, out of sight all kinds of activity is taking place – root systems are growing and renewing themselves and bugs and microbes and other stuff in the soil are doing their jobs so that when Spring comes the plants and trees are ready to burst forth with new life.

This thought led me to consider what is also happening out of sight in my body as I train for this marathon. Every time I work out my muscles are tearing and rebuilding themselves, and my blood vessels, heart and lungs are growing stronger, doing what they need to do to respond to the ways in which they are being pushed beyond their previous limits. All of this important and much needed goodness is happening in my body out of sight and it won't really be until I cross the finish line of the marathon at the end of May that I will reap the benefits of all of the effort I am pouring into this endeavor now.

It is possible always to see the goodness of God in the land of the living but it in not always possible to seeitwith our eyes. Sometimes, we have to operate in faith trusting that the goodness is there even when it isn't visible. Even if it's not possible forus to see goodness in dead-looking trees and last year's brown and dried grasses and plants doesn't mean God's goodness isn't right in front of our eyes. It just means we haven't yet figured out how to perceive it.

We learned this week that the one Haitian student in our Haiti Partners SPARE program that we thought had been killed in the earthquake is actually alive in a hospital in Ivory Coast, Africa. She was taken there to receive treatment for extensive head injuries two days after the earthquake. She is badly injured and in need of significant medical treatment but she is alive.

This made me wonder how many other stories like this are there now unfolding of people who were taken all over the world in a desperate attempt to save their lives who had no identification, who family members are assuming are dead and who will be treated, hopefully healed and then what? This situation only reveals the tip of the iceberg of what I can imagine is the complete chaos of people's lives and of the situation in Haiti with so many nations and agencies and organizations responding with resources, supplies, assisatnce of all kinds but with no coordinated effort or centralized system of keeping track of who is being served and who is still in need.

Even in the midst of all of this chaos and confusion I believe we cansee the goodness of God in the land of the living and that we will continue to see God's goodness in Haiti and now in Chile and in every other place where people try to care for and respond to one another with love and compassion. We may have to train our eyes and hearts to observe things differently, to give others the benefit of the doubt and to trust that even in the midst of pain and sorrow, even when things appear dead and lifeless, God's goodness is all around yearning to be seen.

Week 3

"My refuge and my fortress

my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2)



Two times this past week these words from Psalm 91 helped me get through difficult points in my runs. On Thursday a 5 mile run at Marathon pace was on the schedule. There was snow and ice on the ground and it was cold on Thursday morning. I set out on my 5 mile route from my house over to Lake Mendota drive (which is really hilly) along the lake into Shorewood and then back home via the bike path. It was a 5.2 mile course and I made it to the 5 mile mark in 49:10, which is exactly my hoped for Marathon pace of 9:50. The last couple of miles were tough but instead of focuing on my sluggish legs and labored breathing I started saying this verse with my breathing. Focusing on the words and not on my thoughts helped me stay focused through the challenge. When I reached the 5 mile mark and realized I reached my goal I was elated. I did it!



This morning it was a 10 mile run - my longest run yet. The first 6 miles were pleasant, running with Bob, who's training for the Boston Marathon and ran 16 miles this morning, and LuAnn who's training for the Lake Mendota 20K. We ran in the Arboretum and after one loop all went our separate ways - Bob to finish his run, LuAnn headed for home and I started on the final 4 miles of today's run. The first mile or so was down hill and flat. The last 3/4 of the second mile was uphill, turn around and repeat in the opposite direction. Some downhill, some straight away ending with a long 3/4 mile uphill stretch. The final uphill section was tough and once again the mantra kept me focused to finish these 10 miles in one hour and 50 minutes.


As I was running this morning I was thinking of how grateful I am to have stumbled on this little technique of using scripture verses to distract me from the voices in my head that would really love it if I'd quit when the going got tough. The repetition of scripture occupies my brain with something positive so my body can do what it needs to do.

I don't imagine that God needs my little mantra as much as I do. I do imagine that God appreciates the way in which I reach out to her, my refuge and my fortres, my rock in whom I trust, throughout my days and whenver I need a refuge, a fortress or a rock in the storms of life.


This is one of the main gifts of faith in life. Our faith and the ways in which we exercise our faith gives us resources for the long and often challenging training run that is life. Throughout life, hopefully, we grow in faith, we train our spiritual muscles in worship, prayer, study and relationships with others. Then when the going gets tough the resources are there to focus us and keep us moving one step at a time until we make it through the difficulties and can run again on smoother ground.


A deep and abiding, active and alive faith is how the people of Haiti manage to stay as positive as they are. Encountering their faith in the midst of the numerous and extremeley challenging day to day reality of their lives was the most humbling and the most inspiring aspect of my time there in February, 2009. In the midst of unbelievable poverty people go about their daily lives, and even when they don't have nearly enough for themselves they share what they do have with others. And at the core of it all is a strong and vibrant faith in God, the refuge and fortress, the one in whom they trust. I learned from the people of Haiti I encountered that no matter how difficult life is God is with us in the midst of it. God is yearning for our healing, yearning for a vibrant, rich, meaningful life for all of God's children and crying out for justice on behalf of those who struggle too hard and too long just to have the basic necessities of life.

Thanks be to God who runs with us, who walks with us, who dwells with us through all the ups and downs of life. Amen.

Catch ya next Saturday!

P.S. I added the tents to haiti website to this blog page - check it out and make a donation if you're able.

Week 2

For some reason this week was tough. I had a lot of fun and interesting things on the calendar but I think it was a case of too much of a good thing. I did manage to get all my training runs and classes in but it wasn't easy. I'm proud of myself for forging ahead no matter what and not giving myself permission to skip something with the justification that it's early and I'll make it up later.



My saturday run was only 6 miles. That's the shortest "long run" I'll be doing between now and the marathon. I left the house around 4:30 in the afternoon. My sermon wasn't done but I was stuck and I figured a run would clear my mind and help me refocus on the task at hand. In the end it worked and I'm really glad I didn't postpone my run until Sunday.



As I left the house, the sun was shining and it actually felt warm on my back. I worried that I'd dressed too warmly. But by 5:00 I was feeling the chill as the sun dipped and it moved toward night.

I struggled some on this run because there are a lot of people who haven't done a very good job of clearing their sidewalks. I really don't want to fall and hurt myself so it was slow going much of the time. Still, I stayed within my normal pace of running about a 10:30 mile on my longer runs. I felt good as I walked in the house. I always feel good right after a run. It's an awesome high!



Bryan Sirchio returned from Haiti on Thursday with a new project in mind. The group he traveled with took two truckloads of supplies to our partners in Haiti including a few tents. While they were in Haiti and talking with the leaders of the SPARE Program and of CONASPEH (two Haitian organizations we partner with) it became really clear that there is a growing urgency around providing shelter. Too many people are still living out in the elements with little to no protection from the sun and rain. Haiti's rainy season is approaching and it is now crucial to do what we can to provide some better shelter. This is how our "Tents to Haiti" project was born. The goal is to send 15,000 tents to Haiti between now and March 15. If you can help with that project, go to http://www.tentstohaiti.org/ for more information.



The Psalm this week was Psalm 99. This is a Psalm of unabashed praise and adoration of God and God's holiness. It lifts up God's faithfulness to God's people throughout Israel's history and encourages the people to worship and praise God because of how great God is and has been with them and for them.



I'm not always that comfortable focusing on God's holiness. It seems this emphasis places God so far away from me, so high and exalted, unreachable, untouchable. I tend to imagine God in more intimate, personal, present with every breath ways. Still, I appreciated the reminder that God isn't only one thing and doesn't only act in small, intimate personal ways. God also is able to act in large, world altering, game changing ways. And for this I am also grateful. I want God to act in large ways because the challenges of the world are large and we need a God who is up to meeting those challenges and whom we can trust to be attentive to the big picture.



It is this great and holy, high and mighty wonderful God who is watching over the people of Haiti and over all of us with love and compassion and looking for ways to act in the world through us and in spite of us to bring healing and wholeness, peace and redemption to all that is broken and in need of transformation. We may not see God's work in Haiti or in our world now but I trust God's presence and God's activity and am grateful that it doesn't all fall on my shoulders!



Have a great week - catch ya next Saturday.



Tisha

Week 1

My training program for the Madison Marathon has officially begun. This week I ran a total of 18 miles. This morning I ran 8 miles in and around the Arboretum with two men who are veteran marathoners. It was a beautiful run as the sun was coming up. It was a little windy and cold (26 degrees when I left my house at 6:45 a.m.) but it felt good to be up and out in the world when things are quiet and most people are still sleeping.

When I think about the next 4 months of training I am mostly excited but occasionally overwhelmed. I am excited because I feel so proud of myself for setting such an ambitious goal that will push me beyond anything I've ever imagined I could do or would even want to do. I feel overwhelmed when I think of finding the time and energy to get my 4 weekly runs and 2 weekly cross-training classes in. My greatest asset at this point is the fact that I am a person who thrives on routine and discipline. I love to do lists and see my Marathon training plan as a 4 month to do list. I know I'll take pleasure every morning in crossing off each day's first task.

As I look at the next 4 months with thoughts about Haiti on my mind and heart I hope and pray that by the time I cross the finish line of the Madison Marathon the situation in Haiti will be more stable than it is right now. I hope that people will have access to food and water and shelter that is reliably available. I hope the world community will have agreed to cancel Haiti's debt and to see the aid being given by goverment organizations as grants rather than loans. I hope that people will be steadily rebuilding their lives. But for right now, as of this week, I know that food and water and shelter continue to be difficult to come by and the supplies on the ground are largely inadequate.

This week the core leader of Haiti Partners MCC, Bryan Sirchio, is in Haiti along with 4 others taking supplies and cash to our Haitian Partners in order to support their efforts to feed and provide water and shelter to the students of the Community School of Cite Soleil and the SPARE students and their families (see haitipartnersmcc.org for more information on these programs) and to support the ministries of CONASPEH, partners of our denomination's Global Partners Missionaries. CONASPEH (The National Spiritual Council of Protestant Churches in Haiti) is an ambitious organization made up of Protestant churches and their pastors that provides training for nurses, mobile medical clinics, schools for children, education and training for pastors and many other programs and efforts that work for justice and a better life in Haiti.

The primary building out of which CONASPEH operated in Port au Prince collapsed in the earthquake killing many of their nursing students and others. In the face of this incredible loss they are casting a courageous and ambitious vision for recovery. (See www.globalministries.org for more information on this ministry and partnership.)

Throughout my training I will be selecting a weekly Psalm to read each morning and reflect upon as I run and work out. This week I've been reading and praying Psalm 138 as interpreted by Nan C. Merrill in her book Psalms for Praying. Psalm 138 includes these words:

"All the leaders of the earth shall one day praise You,
When your Word awakens in every heart;
And they shall proclaim the new dawn of Light and Love,"

I pray that this will be so in the case of Haiti, in the case of all the places in the world crying out for justice and peace. I pray that this time of training for a marathon will also be a time of deepening faith and growing compassion.

Until next week,
Amen.