25 Sep, 2007
Marathon man
This story will make you feel tired!
Running for their lives - one marathon at a time
Words can't describe what Tim Borland is doing. But numbers can.
Borland ran 26.2 miles Friday in less than five hours. It was his 19th consecutive day of completing the equivalent of a marathon.
He's got 44 more to go.
Borland, 31, is running in the spirit of children suffering from a rare and often misunderstood disorder called ataxia-telangiectasia. The disease, known as A-T, is terminal.
The Californian plans to run a 26.2 miles a day for 63 days, pushing a stroller carrying a child with A-T or the name of one who who died from it, punctuating his journey at the finish line of the New York City Marathon. He hopes to raise awareness of A-T along the way.
"I felt it was the calling of my life," he said.
If he accomplishes his goal, Borland will run more than 1,640 miles through Nov. 4, the date of the New York City Marathon. Not many people have tried to run that far in so little time.
What is ataxia telangiectasia?
It is a rare, degenerative disease usually not seen until a couple years after birth. First signs include lack of balance and slurred speech in young children. The disorder gradually lessens muscle control and commonly is accompanied by immunodeficiency problems and cancer. There is no cure nor any way to slow its progression.
photo & story courtesy statesman.com, 9/22/07
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NLT)
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about His strength?
Let's start by thinking some more about Tim Borland, the guy running 26.2 miles a day for 63 days! Unbelievable! I'm a casual runner. I need exercise, so I run a marathon during the course of a week and even then I'm really tired!
I talked to friends who run marathons (for real) and they can't imagine running one a day, for 63 days! They said the physical, mental and emotional exhaustion of doing this feat (and killing the feet) borders on the impossible!
Isn't this how life often feels? We feel like we can't possibly go on. We are so tired of trying to keep our spiritual lives together in the middle of every other life challenge, we want to quit...and then life gets even more difficult!
No matter how tired and weak we feel, God's strength and power never change. God is always the ultimate and perfect source for the strength we need.
How do we get this strength? Trust the Lord. If you believe that God loves you and has your best in mind, then be confident in His promises to strengthen you to keep going, one step at a time. Even when our faith is weak and our feelings are unreliable, remember that God is in control and His power and grace will be enough for us, according to His time and plans, which are always perfect.
If you have ever seen an eagle fly, it's no wonder that Isaiah uses this incredible picture to help us understand what it means to regroup with God.
He promises to make us strong again and give us His perspective and direction!
How do we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Call a "timeout" right now and pray. Talk to Jesus about whatever is making you wonder if you can keep going. Reflect on the words of Isaiah......now just wait on the Lord.....be quiet in His Spirit and listen.....thank Jesus for God's strength and direction.
- Besides your time in DAILYBIDE, take at least two other "timeouts" every day, just to spend time talking with Jesus.
- Remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint. So keep a written journal about what Jesus is teaching you as you let Him pace you every day.
- To help you "wait" on the Lord, memorize today's scripture.
- Use a picture of an eagle for your computer screen or place one in your room as a reminder of how God will renew your strength.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Every day, pray for Jesus to help you recognize when your friends and family are "tired", so that you can encourage them with God's strength.
- Ask questions. Get beyond "How ya doing?" If they sense that you are really interested and care, they may talk about being tired of work, stress, relationships, a bad habit, feeling confused about the future...
- In that moment, trust Jesus to lead you to share just the right amount of your story which includes how God gives you strength.
- Whenever you hear someone use the words "run" or "running", use today's story about the 63 marathon man as a conversation starter to learn more about their story.
- Tell a running friend about today's story by directing them to http://www.communityatcp.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=318&srcid=353
- July 2008 [18]
- June 2008 [13]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [19]
- November 2007 [17]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [18]
- July 2007 [13]
- June 2007 [11]
- May 2007 [14]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [12]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [5]
- November 2006 [14]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [11]
- June 2006 [4]
