“What Sound Does a Penguin Make, Anyway?”

“What Sound Does a Penguin Make, Anyway?”

   Tuesday, on New Year’s Day, was the Polar Dash, an event in which over 4,000 people participated. I was one of them. Three of my friends (Katy, Mechelle, and Carrie) and I ran in the 5K. There was also a 10K and Half-Marathon. Last week, when I was sick, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be up for participating in this event.

   But, with proper rest, I was determined to give it a shot, get the New Year started on the right foot…And the left, moving in a jogging fashion. :) I figured that if I had to, I could just walk it. 3 miles. Done.

   Then, I heard the weather forecasts: “It will be the coldest morning since last winter…” Yes, it turns out that at race time (11:13am), it was -8 degrees. I know people think we were crazy for doing this…But, what do you do when it’s cold? Dress in layers. Simple as that.

   Tuesday morning…Thinking that I was running late to meet my running friends at 8:40am, I text messaged Katy to let her know…She then informed me that I was early…We were meeting at 9:40am…Oops. :) Better to be an hour early than an hour late, right? :) A matter of perspective…To go from thinking I was way behind to having more than enough time…

   But, it would have been best for me to take the extra time, to make sure that I had everything I needed. I thought I was set: Running shoes, two pairs of pants, weather-appropriate socks, protective face-covering, tank top, long-sleeved T-shirt, jacket, fleece, mittens, and the ensemble was complete with penguin hat. :)

   By the way: What sound does a penguin make, anyway? That’s a question that was raised on Tuesday…Still no answer… :)

   I thought I had everything I needed…Until I met Katy at 9:40am, and she mentioned her bib and chip. OH NO! Here I was so prepared that I forgot about my bib and chip! My number and timer for the race! I’m so used to picking them up at the race site that I forgot that I had them ahead of time this time!

   Do I have time to run back home? Would I be able to find my friends at the site? How could I do such a stupid thing? A few of the thoughts that ran through my head…

   What if they wouldn’t let me race without those items? I was ready to conquer this event, as I am a freeze baby and hate cold weather. After being sick, I was NOT going out of the race this way!    

   Why is it that we can be so prepared, or think that we are, but we miss the basic, most important necessity?

   The basic, most important necessity…As people, I believe we were created to love and be loved. God loves us; we love God AND we are called to love one another. But, why is it SO hard? Instead of communicating, genuine listening and talking over things with one another, we have to complicate it? Instead of seeing the face of someone we disagree with or the face of a stranger, do we ever take the second to imagine the face of Christ?

   Responsibility is one of my top-five strengths on the Strengths Finder, and I couldn’t believe I could do something so irresponsible. Way to start the New Year…

   As fear and worry tried to attack, Carrie made the comment, “It’s only a 5K.” Ah, once again, perspective…I could probably still run…It may not be timed, but I could still participate.

   One of the quotes of the day was from Katy to me and Mechelle, “You two are just a complete mess today!” :) There are days, whether it’s forgotten bibs or missing Diet Coke bottles…In the mess, there is a message…Beauty comes from the messiness…We all need each other. The organized and not-so organized…The one who sees the positive and the one who sees the need for improvement can work together to celebrate accomplishments and encourage what needs to be worked on. We don’t give up on each other. We spur each one onward, like iron sharpens iron. It happens in community.

   I LOVE these running events, because there is such a great sense of community among people. We cheer each other on. You can strike up a conversation with a random person. One gentleman we asked to take our picture (below) started chatting and joking. He was getting ready to retire as a drug and alcohol counselor. He used to run. Laughter and smiles were all around.

 

   You never know who you may meet…All you need to do is be out there. There is a dark world out there, in need of light. Christ’s light. This Sunday is the beginning of Epiphany, when the church celebrates the revelation of Christ to all nations. To unlikely people. Like the wise men following the star to find Christ (Matthew 2:1-12). The wise men were pagan astrologers, and their occupation was forbidden in Jewish law. Today, they would be the equivalent of people who read and interpret horoscopes. Yet these men are welcomed, and their gifts are received.

   Imperfect people, welcomed and received. From the wise men to today…We are welcomed and received. How often, though, are we the ones ourselves preventing us to be welcomed and received? We think we need to be perfect, or we bash ourselves when we make a mistake…We’re not perfect, and we’re not going to be. Why are we always our own worst critics?

   I started reading for one of my classes that starts next week, and Professor Carla Dahl writes, “When God works in us nothing is useless, and nothing is spared” (Becoming Whole and Holy: An Integrative Conversation about Christian Formation, page 5).

   So…We arrive at the event, and we find the information tables. Mechelle had to pick up her stuff, as she was later in registering. I meekly walked up to the table to explain my plight: “I forgot my bib and chip at home. Is there anything that can be done?” The lady behind the table kindly wrote down my name and gave me a new bib number and chip. No big deal. These types of things must happen all the time…Especially with 4,000 people, right?

   I was relieved. I could run. Start and finish. Complete with finisher’s medal.

   Grace found me. Actually, grace was there the whole time. I just needed to be open to it. Let go of my mistakes. Stop allowing fear and the “what if’s” to take over. Instead of condemnation there was mercy. Welcomed and received. :)

   It was cold outside, yes. It is more taxing on the muscles to run in that type of weather. But, we were all ready to run…Katy and Mechelle ran together, achieving their best 5K time yet. My main goal was to finish this race…Or, as Katy knows my goal for every race is “to not die.” :)

   Carrie ran the race with me, which helped to spur me onward. Hopefully I did the same for her. Running with others builds each other up. We all need each other. No one gets left behind.

   In running the race of life, are we running with others, building one another up?

   It wasn’t my best time for a 5K, but it was an accomplishment…Overcoming illness, the cold weather…If you wait for perfect conditions to get something done, you’ll never accomplish anything.

   Imperfect people…Welcomed and received…Thanks be to God! :)

<3 you, my running friends! Warm fuzzies! :)