What Our Cat Taught Me About Prayer

Meow. Meow. Meow. Every morning. Meow. Meow. Meow. Every afternoon. Meow. Meow. Meow. Everyday, our cat, Rory, cries, meow! It gets annoying, but he sure is effective.

The reason for his constant meow? He wants his Temptations treat. Yes, those little bite sized treats in a jar. He has been conditioned that he gets a few treats every morning. So, as soon as morning rolls around, the meow-fest begins. And, it doesn’t stop until he gets his treat.

Just today, his meow was so persistent, I got out of bed to give him his treat just to keep him quite. His constant begging won me over. Even if I wasn’t quite ready to get out of bed.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 called, “The Parable of the Persistent Widow”. And, it is quite similar to Rory and his constant meow.

In a certain town, there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

“And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man  comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Bottom line, the widow in the parable didn’t stop asking God for what she needed. Eventually, the judge granted her the request.

Our cat, Rory, didn’t stop asking, “meowing”, either. And if I will get out of bed to get treats for Rory, how much more will a loving, just God, hear my persistence?

What, in your life, is a prayer that you want to be answered? Even if it seems like you’ve been praying it for years, don’t stop!

Keep asking, or “meowing”. Go make a difference. And always, Run By Faith.

Why You Need To Support A Virtual Race

Another year, another canceled race. Is it frustrating? Absolutely. Is there a chance your favorite race won’t ever come back? Absolutely. Is there something you can do about it to make sure that it WILL come back? Absolutely!

As we continue to slowly venture into opening things back up from the Pandemic shutdown, more races have had to make the difficult decision to make their race virtual. This isn’t a decision that your RD (Race Director) takes lightly. Numerous phone calls, emails, texts, and Zoom meetings have taken place to bring them to this decision. If this this has been tough on you, put yourself in the shoes of your RD.

Hours have been spent planning for your big race day. T-shirts and medals have been ordered. Contracts, sometimes filled with “Non-refundable Clauses” have been signed. And, the feeling of knowing that your expectations might not be met weighs heavily on your RD’s heart. Despite all of that, there’s something that potentially could break your RDs heart even more; your race might not come back next year. Now, before you freak out, there’s something you can do about it.

If your race offers a virtual option, SIGN UP! This will help offset some of the costs I spoke about earlier. And, it will help keep your race from going under. Yes, those are some of the tough discussions that some races are facing. If you’re thinking, “C’mon, Tommy, a virtual race can’t cost THAT much”. You probably don’t realize all of the costs that go into making your race day happen. I know of a race that ended up spending well over $7,000 on shipping for medals and t-shirts. (That certainly wasn’t in the original budget). So, if they had 200 people run the race virtually, at $35 per person, they broke even on JUST the shipping.

Running virtually DOES have its benefits. You choose the day to run. (I suggest picking your most favorable forecast). You get to choose your course. You aren’t fighting traffic. You don’t need to find a parking spot, or arrange travel. AND, you still get the amazing swag!

I spoke with Holly Visser, RD for Gazelle Girl, to get her thoughts about the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon, 10k, 5k Virtual race.

Events falling in the land of in between…you know the ones falling in the space of stringent gathering protocols and moderate vaccine percentages…need our support to ensure a return next year at this time.

We, at Gazelle Girl, are working hard to create a race feel experience as best we can. With fun swag additions like cowbells and confetti poppers, and small hometown gatherings. Motigo messaging that mimics the on course cheer squads and voices we’ve come to love and expect.

We’ve reduced the race fee to keep it reasonable for anyone to access. Walk or jog- just join us!”

Holly Visser, Gazelle Girl RD

My wife, Patty, is again signed up for the Gazelle Girl virtual race. You can still sign up, too. (just click that link) Oh, and another “virtual benefit”? You can run this in your own hometown, and still get the swag! (and it is legit swag!!)

Last year, I challenged you to flood the Facebook page, and email in-box, of your RD’s with LOVE! Show them you respect them, and their tough decisions. Being a RD is not glamorous. And, I know, each of them didn’t foresee continued pandemic guidelines. Join me in spreading a message of love and support to each of them.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Race virtually. Love continuously. Always Run By Faith.

Take The Baton

Several Years ago, I was in a 12 person relay race called, RAGNAR. The race territory covered 200 miles. One runner would pass a baton to another runner. Then, we’d drive to the next destination, and wait for that runner to pass the baton so that the next runner could go. Then, on and on, and on. Once you’re passed the baton, you take off and run. Until you get the baton, you wait.

Guess what?  Today, I’m encouraging you to take the baton, and run! Volunteer. Serve. Get involved. Community. School. Church. Just grab the baton and get involved. What are you waiting for?

There may be something inside you right now saying, “how can I do this?” Let me say this, how can you NOT?  I know what you’re thinking, “it’ll be a headache” “my schedule is already chaotic”.  But I’m here to tell you, God will help you make a way! 

Serving is joining. And it is good to be part of something bigger than yourself. For me, I have found that serving at church is a very safe place to get involved. Besides, I’m doing God’s work. 

Where’s God calling you to serve.  Food pantry? A shelter? At school? As a mentor? Talk to someone and let them know, “I want the baton!”

Take the baton.  Go make a difference. And always Run By Faith!

That’s One Small Step For Man…

July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong uttered the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil walked on the moon. THE MOON! It was small steps that were celebrated. He didn’t run hundreds of yards. We celebrated a small step. And, still today, it is considered a massive feat. But, “why don’t we celebrate the small things anymore?”

I can’t help but think of when my kids were little. We celebrated ALL of the little things. The first time our baby slept through the night. The first time he smiled. His first giggle. His first word. The first crawl. The first step. The first sleep through the night. In the scheme of life, these are not earth-shattering events, but we celebrated them!

As life moved on, “small things” became “bigger things”. Potty training. Ditching the diapers, and staying dry. The first day of school. The first recital. The first base hit. The first sleep over. (Remember how big of a deal that was?) Then, those little things just kept getting bigger. The first day of middle school. High school. Drivers ed. Prom. Graduation. (I could keep going) The bigger the event, the bigger the celebration.

Why do we stop celebrating the small things? The move from 3rd chair to 2nd chair in band. Making the team. Getting a part in the play? Small things MATTER!

Want proof? Ask a runner. Literal seconds make a difference. If you’re trying to qualify for Boston Marathon, you can miss the cut by a second. On the other hand, if you run a race and beat your personal record by 1 second, it’s something to be celebrated! You’ll get high fives, and cheers from your friends. ONE. SINGLE. SECOND. Oh yeah!

As we get older, we forget to celebrate. I encourage you to look at your current situation and see what you can celebrate. You’re family. Your job. Your interest rate dropping. Sobriety. Not going to “that website”.

How about your faith? Are you celebrating growth in your faith? Maybe you’ve started praying for the first time in years. Listening to Christian music. Attending church. Reading your Bible? In the Bible, Hebrews 6:1 says, “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity…” Luke 17:5 says, “…increase our faith“. These are things to celebrate! But why don’t we? A step toward God is always something to celebrate!

You don’t have to walk on the moon to find something to celebrate! Today, I encourage you to celebrate things worth celebrating. A healing. Your growth. Your fur baby. Your job. Your mechanic who just told you that your car is running great. Find the small thing in your life, and celebrate. Buy a pinata if you need too!

Celebrate small things. Go make a difference. Always, Run By Faith.

Explaining Love Through Rock And Roll Lyrics

In the month of February, there’s always a lot of talk about, “Love, exciting and new…” Well, I am going to try and explain it with a little help from rock and roll.

You may be asking, like Foreigner, “I wanna know what love is.”  Perhaps, like Whithey Houston, “The Greatest Love Of All” is happening to you. Maybe, as Neil Diamond crooned, it’s, “Love On The Rocks”.  But really, “What’s love got to do with it?”

First of all, “What is Love? Baby don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me. No more.” I can tell you, it isn’t bobbing your head side to side. Love is deeper than that.

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance.  Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wromg. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best in others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (The Passion Translation)

See? Love is not candy, or flowers, or a card. It is deeper. “For this is how much God loved the world – he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.” John 3:16.

If you’re, “All Out Of Love”, and feel like, “Love Bites”, remember God doesn’t “Give Love A Bad Name”. He has, “Endless Love”.

Love wins. Go make a difference. Always Run By Faith.

The Closing Credits

You’re watching your favorite show, and it comes to that one gripping, powerful scene. The plot twist. The Hero Conquers. The Villain dies. The show ends, and the credits begin. This is generally when you turn the movie off, and miss the closing credits. But, there are so many people behind the scenes that bring that story to life, they should be recognized. These are the people who do the things that we rarely think about. The person who gets permission to close a road. The person who calls and arranges all of the catering for the crew. The people who hold the microphones, and their wrap the cables.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the Heavens.” You might know this better by the song, “To everything, turn, turn turn. There is a season turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under Heaven”. Seasons come and go. Jobs come and go. And, people come in and out of your life. None of which are bad. But, I’d like to encourage you with some of the “behind the scenes” people who have crossed your path.

Between school, work, church, clubs, athletics, extra curricular activities, vacations, and countless other groups, you’ve probably met thousands of people in your lifetime. Some of those more important people are coming to your mind as you read this. Others, you’ve totally forgotten about until someone brings their name up. But, each of them have made an impact in your life.

I was reading in a chapter in the New Testament of the Bible called, Romans. It is an amazing book filled with dramatic stories of healings, life-change, and courage. The very end of the chapter is like the end of the movie. How is it going to end? Well, like a movie, it ends with closing credits. Paul, takes time to thank people that have come in and out of his life. He thanks people for their hospitality. He thanks co-workers. And, he thanks leaders. Many of the people he thanks, we never hear about again. But, their impact in Paul’s life was so big, they made the closing credits. And these credits have been passed on for thousands of years.

I want to be the person who makes the “closing credits” in someone’s last goodbye. Can you imagine the ripple effect? How about you? Are you living a life that would make the “closing credits” in a friends’ life? Maybe today is the day to make a few edits.

Leave a legacy. Go make a difference. And always, Run By Faith.

Sometimes Life Brings Some Pretty Tricky Footing

Living in Michigan, if you want to run outside, it means that sometimes you have to run in the snow.  The other day, I was running on a path that I’ve run hundreds of times. It’s paved, but when its snow covered, it makes for some very tricky footing. It turns a normal 15 foot wide trail, into about 1 foot wide. However, I’ve learned that if I can hug the side of the trail with the edge of the grass, I get better footing.  This causes me to pay much more attention to where I’m stepping. Also, there’s no way that I can run my normal pace, because underneath that snow-covered path, could be a mini-pothole, raised concrete, or even ice. 

In life, sometimes your, “well known path” can become snow-covered. Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze straight before you.” Even though your footing might not be firm, and your steps can be difficult, have faith that God will give you exactly what you need. Even if your clear path is only 1 foot wide.  

Keep your gaze straight. Go make a difference. And always Run By Faith.

I Was Told I Had 10 Minutes To Live

January 24, 1982. West Michigan was hit with a snowstorm with high winds. 5:45am. I was sound asleep in my waterbed, when I heard a very loud noise. A noise I had only ever heard during the daytime. Immediately I knew something wasn’t right.

I walked outside of my bedroom door, and heard the smoke alarm going off. I remember saying to my younger sister, “Kelly, stop playing with the smoke alarm. You’re going to wake up Mom and Dad”. She wasn’t playing with it. In fact, she was still asleep. It was that moment I realized I was smelling smoke in the house.

I ran down the hallway and woke up my parents, and my sister. “FIRE!” In a panic, we all ran down the hallway, through the kitchen, and straight to the garage door. The four of us made it that far, but that night, my Uncle Rick decided to stay the night. He was sleeping in the basement. The exact area where the smoke was coming from. We yelled several times downstairs, but he never heard us.

I remember my Dad running toward the garage, looking for an axe, in hopes of trying to break a bedroom window where my Uncle was sleeping. Just then, Uncle Rick came running up the stairs in a panic. We all got in the car, to try and stay warm, backed out of the driveway, and sat and watched the flames reflecting off of the snow covered trees in the backyard.

Due to the bad Michigan weather, it took the fire department several extra minutes to arrive at our house. Then, like a convoy of Fire Trucks in a parade, they made their way to our house. I remember my Mom crying in the front seat, as she watched her house, and belongings, go up in smoke. I was a kid in shock, just trying to put it all together.

Later in the day, sitting at a neighbor’s house, trying to recall all that happened, my Uncle Rick said something I will never forget. “Who came downstairs to get me?” “What are you talking about?” We said in unison. “Who came downstairs and grabbed my hand? Someone grabbed my hand and led me upstairs.” Silence. We all sat in silence. “Nobody. Nobody grabbed your hand.” Almost in a panic, Uncle Rick said, “Someone grabbed my hand!”

To this day, I truly believe that God sent an Angel to my house that night. You see, just hours before the fire had started, I had fallen asleep on the couch. My Mom insisted on me going to sleep in my bed upstairs. Good thing she trusted her gut, as the couch was only about 10 feet from the source of the fire, the wood burning stove.

The fire chief said that we had about 10 minutes left to live, before the smoke and fire consumed us. To this day, Uncle Rick still remembers someone grabbing his hand.

I thank God for the 1982 miracle in my house. And I thank Him for His protection, and Angels.

God wasn’t done with me in 1982. And, He isn’t done with you!

Be mindful of your choices. Go make a difference. Always Run By Faith.

You Really Should Build A Snowman

In West Michigan, kids, and some adults, can’t wait for the very first snowfall.  There’s something magical about it. The other day, after said first snowfall, while running through my neighborhood, I saw a Dad and his two kids building a snowman. Well, Dad was building, and the kids were making snow angels.  As I ran past him I said, “You get the Dad of the year award!” We had a good laugh. 

Later in the week, rain moved in and melted the snow. The only thing left standing was the snowman.  It was a reminder of, “what was”.  And he lasted for several days, too. 

In the Bible, a guy named Joshua made a monument of 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan River. It was to serve as a reminder to his people of the crossing of the Jordan river.  Every time people saw the stones, it served as a reminder of “what was”. A reminder of when God performed a miracle. 

Do you have something in your house, car, or life, that reminds you of a time in which God showed up? I’d like to encourage you, create your own standing stones, or, if you live near snow, build a snowman. But, stones last longer. 

Build your monument. Go make a difference. And always Run By Faith.

The Sticker On Your Car

Runner stickers. I’m sure you’ve seen them. Us runners kind of have a thing for ‘em. They’re the oval shaped stickers that runners put on the back of their car. 5k, 10k, 13.1 or, the biggie, 26.2.  These all represent running distance accomplishments. 

Let me ask you a question, what would an oval shaped sticker for your accomplishments say? Parent? Grandparent? Graduate? While running stickers tell a distance, they don’t tell the full story. They don’t tell the hours of training. The weather conditions. The grit. The injuries. 

Your sticker tells a story, too.  The joy of a relationship. Perhaps a struggle. Maybe even heartache. I’m grateful I’m not defined by a sticker. I’m defined as a child of God.  Psalm 139:14 says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Now that’s a sticker that tells a story!

Celebrate your accomplishments. Go make a difference. Always Run By Faith.

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