Week one = done.

Last week was the beginning of marathon training.  It was a challenge to kick off on vacation. I wanted to stay up late and watch the meteor showers each night but that made early morning sunrises and runs tricky.  

The bonus? Cross training day wa splaying in the lake.  

Here are a few snapshots from last week:

Day one- 40 min jog.  

Speed day: a view of my last 400m sprint. 

And my first long run in a while - 7 miles on a hot and humid morning.  This was my cool down. 

Back home again means some healthier eating and a return to a regular sleep schedule.  These are all good things for marathon training.  

A week away with family with laughter, late nights, great food, sunrise filled mornings and space to just be me...well, that is just what my body and soul needed in general. 

What's next?

Last week's great triathlon experience meant many stories about the day, many accolades and lots of hugs and smiles.  Often following the words of congrats came the question, "So, what's next?"

I've thought about that question often since I came down from the high of the triathlon.  I'd love to do another triathlon this summer/fall.  I looked into races over the next few months and between race schedules and my schedule it looks like one triathlon for 2016. 

The other piece to that is that my next scheduled race is the Rehoboth Marathon in December.  In just over a week, training begins for that.  I will use swimming as my cross training as long as the pool is open.  Swimming has been a great strength building exercise for me.  It is nice to be off my legs for cross training and it has taken me out of my comfort zone. 

Speaking of being outside of my comfort zone, I swam a mile today.  I heard about the Blue Marsh Mile on Wednesday and learned that I could show up this morning, register and swim.....so I did.  I defaulted to my comfort zone of the breaststroke, but I completed the distance.  I know that for next year's triathlons, I need to work on my open water swimming.  I need to just get out there and practice.  I have the ability...and the strength, it's just overcoming the uncertainty of freestyle in open water. 

I'll get there...one swim at a time. 

With the marathon on the horizon, I'll spend more time running with a focus on endurance, speed and stamina.  I plan on integrating strength training and a focus on diet as well.  I'm excited to return to Rehoboth with a knowledge of the course and race day details. 

Will there be more triathlons in my future?  Heck yeah there will be...but there is plenty of time to think about and prep for those.  In the meantime, I'll run. 

Tri it....you'll LOVE it!

I competed in my first triathlon today.
Let me tell you the New Jersey State Triathlon is a great one!  I had an amazing experience.

The last 6+ weeks I have been training for this day.  This past week was a tough one.  Mentally I couldn't stop thinking about race day.  I was worried about getting checked in, figuring out the transition space, the swim, completing the race...you know....all the first time jitters.

I was thankful to pick up my race packet yesterday, see the lay of the land and attend the pre-race meeting.

I also enjoyed a tasty dinner with mom, dad and Billy.  Meeting up with an old friend was just icing on the cake. 

Today started off early...but I was ready.

We made it to the start ahead of traffic, I got my things situated in the transition area, and got to eat some breakfast.  I headed to the water for the pre-race warm up swim just to get a feel for the water.  It was warm, but worth getting in just to remind myself that I know how to swim.  After that I was ready to go!

When my wave was called into the water, I got hugs and cheers from mom and dad.  It made my day!  I was so excited that I rushed in with the crowd...and forgot the tip of staying to the back of the pack.  When we started, I was pretty much in the middle....and I tried freestyle, but kept getting bumped.  So I went with my comfort zone of breaststroke.  I knew I had the stamina for the swim, but being able to sight better with the breaststroke and have good look at who was around me was a good thing.  It was then that I remembered my original game plan: get through the swim, enjoy the ride and embrace the run.  I had decent speed with the breaststroke and knew that I would get to the end of the swim not winded.

As I ran out of the water my family saw a smile on my face.  I think I was smiling because the swim was over...but I was also smiling because I was having a good time.  I was doing my first triathlon!

It took a bit to get the bike shorts over the wet bathing suit, but as I did my family cheered from the other side of the transition fence.  Everything was laid out just right for me and sitting down to get that gear on was worth it.

The bike ride went smoothly.  I was worried about passing and being too close to riders in front of me, but it all went well.  I sipped on gatorade and when I knew I was just about done with the ride, I took my gel pack with some water so I wouldn't have to deal with it on the run.

At the end of the ride I had a quick transition to the run....with more cheering from my family.
The run course took me right by Billy and my dad for some great photo ops and fun video.

The run in a word was HOT!  I had hoped to really enjoy the run, seeing as that is my strong suit, but I just ran and thought of as many cool things as I could.  I walked through water stops to continue hydrating and to keep as cool as possible and then just kept running.  I didn't want to push to hard and get overheated...my goal was to finish.  I was hydrated enough that I could keep going.  As we hit the last stretch, I was excited that I was completing my first triathlon!  Just before the last turn a woman shouted, use it all, don't take it home with you!  And I thought...heck yeah...and I kicked in for the last bit!  I came around that corner pumped and ready to finish...I caught sight of my family and my smile took over my face, my arms went up and I was so excited!

My two goals going into today were to finish and to finish in less than 2 hours.  I'm happy to say I finished feeling AMAZING and I did it in under 1 & 1/2 hours!  Woo hoo! 

A HUGE thank you to mom & dad for driving down, for the pre and post race meals and for being amazing spectators!   

A special thanks to Billy, the best husband and personal race photographer there is!  Love you, babe!

Who is my neighbor?

July 10, 1016

8^th Sunday after Pentecost

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

Psalm 25:1-10

Colossians 1:1-14

Luke 10:25-37

Here is the sermon from this weekend.  Before worship, I asked people for the following fill ins, in the style of Mad Libs.  As you read the sermon, I included the responses from worship on Saturday night.  

Name of a person, name of a town, name of a town, a group of people, a nice person/person of good standing, a nice person/person of good standing, a mean person/person with a sketchy background, a mode of transportation, a safe place, a unit of money.  

At the end of the sermon, you can see what people said at 8 and 9:30 on Sunday.  

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

I have to tell you, I love our gospel lesson for today…it is one that you may have heard before, but it is one that continually speaks to us.  Especially as we hear news stories week after week of different groups or races of people who are being hurt or killed because of who they are. 

This passage calls us to think about who we are…who the people are who are around us…and most importantly, who Jesus calls us to be in this global and local community. 

Let’s listen to the gospel lesson again…

            Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “June was going down from Robesonia to Clearwater, and fell into the hands of the mob/mafia, who stripped her, beat her, and went away, leaving her half dead.  Now by chance Pastor Jen was going down that road; and when she saw her, she passed by on the other side.  So likewise Vicar Bonnie, when he came to the place and saw her, passed by on the other side.  But The Grinch while traveling came near her; and when he saw her, he was moved with pity.  He went to her and bandaged her wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put her on his own motorcycle, brought her to the church, and took care of her.  The next day he took out two quarters, gave them to the person in charge, and said, ‘Take care of her; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the woman who fell into the hands of the mob?”  He said, “The one who showed her mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

And that’s what we call Bible Mad Libs.  Fun, huh? 

I think that hearing scripture in a different way, helps us to hear the stories and the message of Jesus in a new light.  While we may have a hard time understanding the cultural differences between Samaritans, Levites and priest, when we think about we trust or don’t trust, it brings the gospel to light in a new way. 

Maybe as you hear this story…and hear about the different characters you may ask yourself, “Where do I fit into the story?”

I have often asked that question when listening to this passage. 

Who am I?  Who are you? 

Do you connect with the priest and the Levite?  The ones that passed right by?  Oh, that’s a guilty place to be, isn’t it?  Because, like them, we know better…we know that we are called to serve our neighbors and love them, but we don’t always get it just right.  We may neglect to care for someone physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  Sometimes we may neglect or miss the opportunity to proclaim the good news of Christ…just because we are too busy.  Or, because we think that perhaps that person isn’t someone who needs to hear the saving grace of God.  We cross on the other side of the street and keep going.

Well, get ready, but if you’re going to associate with those two guys, well then you might as well associate with the robbers.  The robbers you say?  No, not me…but what’s the difference – rejecting the injured man on the side of the road or putting him there in the first place?  Both are pretty bad. 

Okay, so maybe you connect with the innkeeper.  You are one who is willing to take care of someone in need.  Many of us have done that sort of thing at one time or another, haven’t we?  And without even getting paid for it, as the innkeeper did.  At least the innkeeper comes of better than the priest and the Levite and the robbers.  He is on the positive side of the equation, willing to help when the opportunity presents itself. 

Maybe you can identify with the victim.  You’ve been hurt or ignored by others or you’ve been passed by…Theologically we might even be able to make a case for that.  The condition the man found himself in by the side of the road is sort of like the condition we find ourselves in when we realize who we really are.  We are sinful beings, when left to our own devices, we will mess up, we will feel guilty and unworthy.  Sometimes that guilt and unworthiness is worst when it comes from ourselves. 

Well, that leaves the Samaritan, doesn’t it?  While we’d all wish that’s who we could be, let’s put Jesus in that role.    

Jesus comes to us, no matter what our condition.  Whether we are happy in life and love and work or not…Jesus meets us on the road. 

We may be suffering, hurt, sick, or beaten, Jesus comes to meet us on the road. 

Try as we might, we cannot always be the Samaritan.  From time to time we will be, but other times we will be the victim, or the ones who put him there and ignored him, sometimes we will be the one who carries him or cares for him…but Jesus is the one who will save him. 

I heard someone say, we’re not here to save the world, Jesus did a pretty good job of that 2000 years ago.  We’re here to tell people about that saving grace.  We are here to tell people about God’s amazing saving grace that extends to all people.  A saving grace that does not discriminate.  A saving grace that extends to the people and places that we think are least likely…like to me…and to you….and we rejoice in that. 

In that joy, we reach out to those who are hurt, struggling, discriminated against and hurt. We foster a space, created by God’s grace for all of God’s children to know of God’s love in their lives. 

We pray for those who do not have that space and who do not feel God’s grace.  We pray for those we have put on the side of the road and those whom we have walked by.  We pray for the strength to be a voice to the voiceless and a haven love and grace for those who do not feel welcome. 

I pray, that as we reflect and respond to the news and to violence and hate in our broken world, that we respond with compassion, mercy and God’s grace….knowing that it is extended to us and that because of that grace, we are able to love and serve others. 

And now may the peace, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and let all God’s people say, amen. 

8:00 Sunday

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “Josh M. was going down from Philly to Hershey, and fell into the hands of the a clan, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance Jane Z.  was going down that road; and when she saw him, she passed by on the other side.  So likewise Pastor Jen, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But The Devil while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him in his own car, brought him home, and took care of him.  The next day he took out two quarters, gave them to the person in charge, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of a clan?”  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

9:30 Sunday

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “Eric H. was going down from Robesonia to Ephrata, and fell into the hands of the members of Trinity Lutheran Church, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance Denny B. was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  So likewise Louise B., when she came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But The Grinch while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own Big Wheels, brought him to the Motel Deska, and took care of him.  The next day he took out two million dollars, gave them to the person in charge, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the congregation of Trinity?”  He said, “The one who showed her mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

New fuel for a solid workout.

With a triathlon in July and a marathon in December this will be a fun summer for training.  I've noticed over the past few months it's been hard to get into a regular routine.  Both diet and exercise have been on my mind but have not been a priority.  

Last month I started working with a personal trainer at the gym with a focus on strength training.  The more I read about running both short and long distances, the more I am aware of the importance of strength training.  

While that has been a chunk of my workouts, I've also gotten back into regular bike rides.  

My goal is to start Tri training in June, but apparently the upcoming races have been on my mind.  

Last night I had two nightmares.  

In the first one I was running the Pittsburgh Marathon. (I ran it many years ago on a beautiful sunny day and finished in Heinz Stadium).  Last night's version was quite different.  It was cold and rainy...I had been running for what felt like forever.  It was now dark...and I got lost.  I had to ask for directions and when guided back to the course I had to hop over a fence to get to the last dash to the finish line.  (At one point I thought, geesh, why is this so tough? How was my taper?  Oh wait...I didn't even train!?!?) 

When I was back in the course, I was trying to weave around people who were casually walking the race in street clothes.  There was no finish line, but you had to run through a turnstile.  It.  Was. Weird. 

Sadly, just through the turnstiles were nearly empty pie plates so I didn't get any post race eats.  

And to make things worse, the cat woke me up before I got my medal. Womp. Womp. 

Nightmare number two: thankfully it was much shorter, but I was planning a bike ride and walked up to my bike to see the tubes so deflated that the tires were dropping of the rims.  Ugh. 

I was planning on a strength day at the gym today when the forecast looked like a completely rainy day.  When I got up and just saw overcast I revamped the workout. I tried a brick - bike/run.  I attempted the distance that I'll do in the Tri and I completed it.  A tough workout but I did it.  

Here's to more challenges, hopefully without fuel from my dreams. 

I will say this, friends helped me pull through today more than they know.  

This went with me each pedal and step today.  

Until the next post...

 

Passion + Gift = service.

January 31, 2016

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

 

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Psalm 71:1-6

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30

 

Please pray with me, 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen.  

Two years ago, I attended a youth summit meeting in Detroit.  I had the pleasure of sitting in on a presentation by Rozella White, the program director for young adult ministry in the ELCA.  Sitting with a group of youth leaders and high school youth, she addressed vocation…calling…and what it means in our everyday lives.  She talked about how we have passions…things that we do that feed our souls.  And we have gifts, things that we can do without even thinking about it.  

It is when we are able to combine the two…our passions and our gifts….that we are able to live out our vocations in life.  

When I think about combining passions and gifts one name immediately comes to mind: Pete Nelson.  That name may not be familiar to you unless you find yourself watching Treehouse Masters on the Animal Planet channel.  You see Pete builds treehouses for a living.  How cool is that?  But it’s more than just that…you can see the gifts he has for planning and building and the joy that emanates from him as he meets with families, designs these tree houses and helps build them.  He has a great team that he leads to complete these great builds and lots of laughs and fun are had during the build.  

My favorite part, though, comes at the end of the show with the ‘big reveal’.  He walks the couples or families to the tree house…but they can’t look up until he tells them.  And when they do, he loves watching their response to their new treehouse.  It’s so much fun.  

Pete takes his passion for building treehouses and the gifts that he has of leadership and planning and building and combines them to live out his vocation.  Good stuff.  

 

Another way to think about it is this:  

Vocation is when you take what you love and give it to what the world needs.  

Let me say that again, vocation is when you take what you love and give it to what the world needs.  

We can take that the next step, to hear that Vocation…comes from a voice ‘in here’ or from others, that is calling us to be the people that God created us to be.  

Today in our readings we hear about two people being called to serve and it begins with Jeremiah, which echoes, the calling of Moses.  

God’s providential rescue of Moses as an infant eighty years before preceded his commission. God likewise refers here to Jeremiah’s prenatal calling. Like Moses, whose many objections include his own ineloquence, Jeremiah protests that he does not know how to speak.

As with Moses, God does most of the talking, describing sending Jeremiah and giving him words to speak, though not yet mentioning that Jeremiah would be addressing rulers. Jeremiah is appointed the task of nation building. He is given a preview of the rough path ahead. As with Moses, a foreign oppressor will figure prominently in the story. But whereas Moses’ God fought the Egyptians to free the Israelites, in Jeremiah’s time God will use the Babylonians as tools in a conflict with the Israelites themselves. Ultimately, though, Jeremiah’s calling serves to bring the nation to a better place.

This passage, as we hear it today, accompanies the story of Jesus’ own announcement of his ministry in Nazareth. We hear Jesus saying that the scripture is fulfilled in their hearing and at first the crowds are amazed.  But as he takes the time to outline what his vocation, his life of service will be in the world, the people around him get upset.  They are frustrated, actually downright angry that he brings a message of healing and reconciliation to ALL people, including the Gentiles.  

They are filled with rage that the expectations they had of God were not the expectations God had or has for God’s people.  The people are so upset, they drive Jesus out of town and are ready to hurl him off of a cliff.  Somehow he passes through the midst of them, unscathed and goes on his way.  

Like Jeremiah, Jesus is understood as a prophet. Like Jeremiah, he is questioned and rejected by his own people, who attempt to kill him, though he survives to continue preaching.  Like Jeremiah, Jesus gets into trouble over foreigners.

In essence Jeremiah’s calling distinctly echoes the story line of Moses, and is in turn echoed by that of Jesus. At least according to one prominent biblical stream, therefore, to speak prophetically is to follow God into a calling one would not necessarily have chosen, saying and doing things that anger one’s own neighbors, things that, though supported by God, will only be seen as fruitful later on, following trials and tribulations.  

We hear the stories of two individuals called to give their lives in service to God.  Sometimes when we hear these passages, there is a sigh of relief.  Phew….I’m glad God didn’t call me as a child….how would I have answered?  Would I have made excuses?  Would I have tried to get out of it?  

But the reality that strikes us today is that we are all called to give our lives in service to God.  We all have a sense of vocation, a sense of a voice calling us to be the amazing individuals that God created each of us to be.  Just as God knew Jeremiah before he was formed in the womb, God knows us.  And whether or not God approaches us through a burning bush, a voice in the night or through the voices of our friends and family, God calls each of us to a vocation in this world.  

That call to vocation isn’t just reaching for one prize, but hearing and accepting who God has created each of us to be….to see the gifts God has given us and using them in service to others as part of God’s mission in the world.  

Again, maybe you haven’t heard a calling in the night, or haven’t set foot on holy ground by a burning bush, but God has called you.  We remember those words of calling as we celebrate a baptism...God makes a promise with us…and calls us to task.  In the service of baptism, it is the sponsor’s responsibility to see that these questions are answered…but as the child grows older, and as we affirm our faith at our confirmation we answer these questions:  

To live among God’s faithful people,

To hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, 

To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, 

To serve all people, following the example of Jesus and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

 

No pressure, right?  But this is our call.  This is our response to the amazing and unending love that God has for each and every one of us.  

The question that remains for us this day…and all days…is how are we living out God’s call in our lives?  How are we seeing the gifts God has given us and listening to the needs around us?  How are we responding to the world around us as baptized children of God?  

Think about your passions…things that feed your soul.  

And look at the gifts God has given you.  

Take time to prayerfully see how you can combine your passions and gifts to care for others around you and all of God’s creation.  

May all that we say and do be a reflection of God’s amazing grace and love at work in our hearts and minds.  

And now may the peace, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and let all God’s people say, amen.  

5 years already?

I began my February newsletter article by quoting the song Watershed by the Indigo Girls.  

I love the line...

And there's always retrospect

(when you're looking back)

To light a clearer path

Every five years or so I look back on my life

And I have a good laugh

I realized I've been at Trinity for 5 years.  Time to look back.  Apparently, the way the article began some folks were worried that I would reflect on the last 5 years and then say....well it's been great, but I'm moving on.  Well, I'm not moving on....I'm so happy at Trinity.  

I keep telling people that I have opportunities to share my passions with the gifts God has given me through service to this congregation and community.   I am truly thankful that my gifts are affirmed in this place and that I have the opportunities to be involved in the lives of the people of Trinity as well as the community of Robesonia as well.  

In this time of reflection and retrospect...I've been thinking about what may happen in the next 5 years (plus).  At Barnes and Nobel this afternoon, I stumbled upon this.  

It's such a cool journal.  I have tried from time to time to journal.  I get into a groove for a while then the habit falls aside.  I think this is a cool way to journal each day.  The book gives you space for one sentence each day. I can handle a sentence a day.  That is completely doable.  Each page has the space for five entries, so this journal will last 5 years.  It'll be easy to look back in 5 years over the adventures, highs and lows and memories.  

Here's to a new daily habit that will probably happen each day as I crawl into bed.  

Today it will be hard to fit the day into one sentence.  It began with a 4 miles run and some pre-bus stop hang out time with my 'niece'.  It involved visits with members in the process of rehabilitation.  There was an afternoon with frozen yogurt, good chats, and a book store.  The day ended with a meeting with our 100 anniversary committee and more opportunities for reflection.  So much happened today.  What a good day.  

+peace