You should be signing my shirt...

Close to all 1000 Team World Vision Athletes gathers for food, fellowship, and inspiration as we endeavor to change the World Tomorrow. A sea of orange will take over downtown Chicago. Not just the 1000 Team World Vision runners in orange (that is approaching 2% of all racers!), but the thousands of spectators coming to cheer us on.

The thing is, we have already changed the World. Through those that sponsored me, and those that sponsored the other runners, A community in Zambia will now have clear water, A new school, and training of local villagers in how to grow and become self sufficient. Tomorrow we run with thoughts of our families. Not just those nearby. But our families in Africa that we are sponsoring. We lift up all our joys and sorrows to the Lord that his Grace will rain upon them.

(Olympian) Ryan Hall and his wife Sara shared their own personal feelings about being involved in World Vision and what all of us (the 1000 running the Marathon) have done for them, to inspire them. The Quote of the day (albeit a humorous one) from Ryan was

...I should be having you sign my shirt, after all You are all going to be out there twice as long as I would...

We had a wonderful meal. We met so many new friends. I can't wait until tomorrow to take my part on this Team. Thank you all for your support and Prayers. Together we have made a Real Difference. Not just in Africa, but here as well. Thank you...

Peace
Ted

Its time, Its time. Did you just say Its time...

Its been a remarkably busy September and beginning of October for me and the family. Ear infections, Kidney Stones, Severe Eye infections, First (and second) trips to the Dentist for a Toddler, First flu shots for an infant, Two (yes two) 20 mile training runs, Long (long long) work hours, Extended weeks of deprived sleep, 100 Year Storm, The spectacular collapse of the Chicago Cubs. It goes on an on. We're not complaining, that is not the message. We (my family) are going and expanding from all these experience. Also, Mother Teresa said it very well when she said...

I know God won't give me anything I can't handle;I just wish he didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

It is now less that 4 days prior to the race. The training is complete. It just time to relax, rest (yeah right), trust the training program, and have faith that the race will play out as it was intended. Was it easy getting to this point? As easy as 1. 2. 3

1. Join Team World Vision (26.2 for Africa)
2. Run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
3. Change lives in Africa

There is still time. Will you stand with us in making a difference?

Who da man? (part II) "I AM"

It was a piece of history. 36 years of since the last No-No but a Cubs picture. As any Cubs fan will tell you. This September has been a pretty dismal month. But lets get real for a moment. Its a game. It doesn't (at least we shouldn't let it) rule our lives.

Many of my longtime friends and colleagues will be losing their jobs this week. To many lost their lives in the train wreck in L.A. People have lost there homes in Texas. People have terrible flooding here in Northern Illinois. Even our back yard is a lake right now. Nobody ever said life was easy. In fact, nobody ever said it was supposed to be fun. We all just hope and wish for a simple and easy life. Words easier said than to believe or live, but there is a plan out there for all of us. I hope that those plans are made evident to everyone very soon.

So Who da man? While its a great personal achievement for Carlos Zambrano. What's the first thing he does? Drops to his knees points to the sky, and give the Great "I AM" his props. In his post game interview, when asked if he had anything else to say, his response what "I just want to give thanks to my Lord". Amen Brother!

If nothing else, for one brief moment, amidst the flooding in Illinois, the cleanup in L.A. and in the Gulf. Cubbie-nation was given a brief moment of joy. A moment to look beyond, to forget, and find a moment to smile, and to celebrate a small piece of history. But most of all to give props to the Great "I AM".

Peace

Argument Starter

Quote from Father Pat Conner, taken from the 09/08 edition of Readers Digest

Never Marry a man who has no friends ... Steer clear of someone whose life you can run, who never makes demands counter to yours. It's good to have a doormat in the home, but not if it's your husband.

Enjoy your day!

Peace

Who da man? "I AM"

Ok ok. Not really me, personally. It was through the strength an perseverance provided to me by the great "I AM" that I was able to have such a successful 1/2 marathon just over a week ago. Its wasn't the PR (Personal Record). But it was the great feeling having strangers cheer for a Team World Vision athlete. For having runners familiar with World Vision ask me about the team during the race. For seeing another TWV brother finish the race as well. Its cool to be a part of something larger.

Jeremiah 12:3 "You, O Lord, know me, you see me, you have found that at heart I am with you". I don't doubt that the Lord knows me better than I do. But when I do run, bike, or swim, I do try to be one heart with our Lord. So Jeremiah capture's my in race motivation quite well.

So who da man? "I AM" is the da man. And as I finished the race I was pleased to give him his props.

33 days until the 2008 Chicago Marathon. I 20 miler down. 1 more to go.

Peace

Why World Vision?

As we get closer to the 2008 Chicago Marathon, we hope that traffic on the blog is picking up. Additionally, with the marathon approaching, that means the sponsorship window is closing. If we reached out to you, to consider a sponsorship donation, you might be wondering. Why World Vision? You might already have a favorite charity or cause you support. Why World Vision, whats special about them. Lets go straight to the horses mouth. Please check out: World Vision at a Glance

In a nutshell, World Vision is a Christian Humanitarian organization that seeks to raise Children, Families, and entire Communities from the desperate throws of poverty and injustice. Financial support and aid is helpful, but it well documented how foreign (financial) aid can lead to dependence by the very people you are trying to help.

As such World Vision seeks to lift those in need with a multi-pronged approach including Child sponsorship; Clean Water, Food Aid, HIV and AIDS prevention and care; Emergency Crises response; Humanitarian Crises response; Job/Skills development.

To put it simply. World Vision is not just giving a Man (or Child, or Community) a fish, to fill a need for a day. Rather they are teaching them to be fisherman, to fill a need for a lifetime.

Through prayer or sponsorship, Will you stand with us in making a difference?

I'm Done

A good friend of mine said once that it was no fun to argue with me as I never have an opinion. While that might be an accurate depiction based on my silence, it is certainly not true of what goes on in my head. For the most part, I don't feel entitled to express my opinion out loud as I assume I will be outgunned if I get pinned against the wall and don't want to go there. So I am taking my tongue and cheek comment about the green party and heading out of the blog sphere where more work can be done on reducing the actual headcount instead of just basing my decisions on the rhetoric.

13.1 for Africa

Today was the last "training race" before the Chicago Marathon. The Batavia Half Madness 13.1 was held today. My intent was to not go out to hard, but not have an easier race like the CDC a few weeks back. I started off at a torrid pace (at least for me). On a day in which the temperature was getting hotter, with the Lord's Help, I managed a new personal Best. I shaved about 10 seconds of my previous best 1/2 marathon time. I finished in 1:37:26 minutes, at a 7:26 pace (64 overall, 61 amongst males, and 12th in the 35-39 age group)

For a day in which I wanted to push myself, I ended up working a lot harder than I anticipated. It was great to see the family cheering on, out on the course. Thanks guys! that REALLY helped.

I'm thankful today, for being fit enough to compete. I'm thankful for the Lord's blessing to allow me a PR today. I'm thankful for a race close enough to home that I was able to still make 11am Mass with my family. I'm thankful for all the support from family and friends as I continue to train for the 2008 Chicago Marathon. And I thrilled for the support from a couple of runners and the spectators cheering me on in my Team World Vision gear. Its awesome that people recognize World Vision and the help they provide around the world.

Peace to you all. And thanks for your support for me and for Team World Vision.

How do you make decisions?

This morning I had one of those moments. You know the kind, where it seems a lot of completely unrelated things are going on (politics, conventions, work, home life, family). While not feeling lost, nor overwhelmed, but rather a bit curious as to (if you are able to step back to have a look at) how everything fits together. Being Catholic of course, I wonder how God is fitting all these dissimilar things together. If if you are not a believer in a Higher Faith or Power, you certainly would have thoughts about how things "fit together" nonetheless.

I think what triggered my thinking was pondering the obnoxious political rhetoric these days. Who's the better Patriot, Who's got more experience, Who is the better leader, Who's got the better judgment. As I listen to both Obama and McCain (but primarily this years crop of Democrats) I wonder how people live their lives according to one set of rules and one set of values, then attempt to govern and legislate by another. Perhaps there is a way to reconcile the two, but frankly I don't see how. (Example: using yellow balloons as a metaphor for any of the current hot button issue like guns, energy, abortion, etc) If I personally believe that yellow balloons are root of all evil, how can I function as a human being knowing that I governed or supported legislation that increased the desire and accessibility of yellow balloons. Unless these politicians are soul-less, empty husks, eventually governing and legislating in a manner inconsistent with your personal beliefs would have to completely tear and rip you apart on the inside. Is has to right?

Anyway. This morning, the homily at daily mass today really hit home, and then was further crystallized by something I read in our Diocesan newspaper. Its from St. Francis of Assisi.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi before the San Damiano Cross

"All-highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may do what is truly your holy will. Amen." ... Saint Francis of Assisi

And to go further with St. Francis of Assisi, an even more applicable prayer (and more well known) is:

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Sometimes other people can make things clearer than we can. I found these words in describing St. Francis' prayer above:

Sometimes Christians are called to turn the world upside down. To bring the exact opposite of what we find in our world. St. Francis' prayer is a bold one, asking for strength to give of ourselves to meet the needs of others. He recognises that it "is in giving that we receive", that as we give of ourselves, we receive the peace and blessing of our risen Lord Jesus. We cannot earn eternal life, but that we are pardoned from the sins that block our claim on it.
Think about the situations that you are involved in that require peace, consolation, hope, light and joy. Then, if you're bold enough, pray the prayer!

I know how I make my decisions. How do you make yours?
Peace to you all.

Who's Steering This Boat Anyways?

I think SAHM's (stay at home moms) are incredible for what they do in sacrificing so much of themselves for their kids but I am just not one of them. While I love the time I spend with E1 and E2, I also love the work I do (all be it frustrating at times) as well as the other side commitments I am involved in. I feel like I am presently in a bit of a transition with my side commitments . On one hand, I feel that with several of them, I have done all I can to get them moving, but am just not getting any satisfaction out of the process anymore, on another, I think I lost my motivation years ago which makes me feel like I am not really being effective anymore, which makes me feel like it is time to have someone else take the post. None of these present commitments seem to fit well with the idea of "Sacrifice with Purpose", the title of this blog and actively changing the lives of others. While I have some thoughts and ideas that have been brewing for sometime, mainly relating to how to use my engineering background for "the greater good", I really have no idea how to go about setting forth down this path. I am sure my shyness around new people and lack of confidence as it related to my foreign language skills have held me back in the past, so this time around, I am hoping God will take me by the hand and lead me on the path I am meant to travel.