In God We Trust

I ran into my runner friend today after a dawn mass at church. We trained for and ran two marathons together in Sacramento, CA. We ran many a prayer run during training and had some memorable faith sharing while carbo loading on marathon eve. We share a lot of things in common, including a knack for wit and humor. Every time we see each other, we know that we have some banter up our sleeves to try to outwit the other. The other thing we have in common is our contemplative nature. We have just as much depth as fun once we start talking about how we're doing. After an exchange of good-natured teasing, we simply start catching up and reassuring each other that God continues to work in our lives.

I've learned a lot from him specially because of his faith-filled life. Always with a smile on his face, he seems to find God in every person, every event, and every little thing. He shared to me one of his practice every time he goes out for a run, which I like to write about today. In his house is a jar half full of change. It used to be empty but it gradually filled up to where it is now. He said that it is a reminder of how God has showed confirmations to his prayers. When he's praying about something, he usually asks for a sign. Some of the signs come when he's running. Those signs are the change that he picks up from the ground when he's doing his running work outs. Those change he said doesn't belong to the ground. He considers every penny and change sacred because of the words inscripted on them "In God We Trust". He accords a measly change with reverence by picking it up, putting it in a special jar, and taking it as a confirmation of God to his prayers. Such is my friend's awareness of God's presence in everything.

It's too bad we couldn't do a run together after the Mass today. However, our brief meeting was enough to remind me to keep trusting that God continues to work in every person, every thing, every time.

San Jose Marathon

It's officially called Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon (DKSVM) in San Jose, CA. Dean Karnazes is no less than the Ultramarathon Man and Silicon Valley is the hub of the tech world, as you all very well know. Of course, these big names names are used to attract runners to join the race.

However, I think calling it the San Jose Marathon is a name big enough to encourage more runners to sign up. After all, its namesake is St. Joseph (San Jose in Spanish), a man known for his strength and faith. And for us runners, we could learn a thing or two about him.

Remember that St. Joseph had to lead his pregnant wife Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. A straight line from these two points would be around 80 miles. Mary rode a donkey while Joseph walked. It is estimated that this journey back then would have taken at least 4 days.

Two Nudges During Mass

The second reading at Sunday mass today was from 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18. As the title was read, my wife gave me a nudge. It was a secret nudge every time we hear a reading taken from the book of St. Timothy, which is our only child’s namesake. Unexpectedly, when verse 7 was read, my son, sitting on my other side, also gave me a nudge. The verse read:

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

It was a verse alluding to running. It is one of our favorite inspirational running quotes which we first read in a tribute to Ryan Shay, a young USA Marathon Champion who collapsed and died during the Olympic Qualifying Trials in 2007.

The verse was part of St. Paul’s letters from prison to St. Timothy. Timothy was St. Paul’s trusted disciple and companion during his missionary journey. When he wrote this letter, Paul knew that his time was near. He had fought a good fight.

As runners, we know how to fight a good fight means. We know how to train hard and give it all you’ve got in a race to the finish.

So I pondered on that little nudge from my son who is seldom expressive of his feelings to me. I thought it was a sign of our bonding. It was a nudge that needed no explanation from either one of us. We both knew what it meant to us.

The letters between Sts. Paul and Timothy also spoke about their relationship. Though Paul was his mentor, Timothy provided comfort and encouragement to him during times of trial. It was a very special relationship, which ultimately, helped build the foundation of a Christian community.

So a nudge from my wife and my son, my two great sources of inspiration and comfort, on both sides, I love it!

"To not do your best is to waste the gift."

My son Timothy quoted Steve Prefontaine in his tribute to his cross country coach on his last year as coach for the school team. His coach told him to alway do his best. He has been with his coach for the last 7 years. My son started from the back of the pack to become one of the lead runners in the diocese. In his last season for cross country, he finished 6th overall out of more than 180 runners in his division. Every run, he said, he did his best for God and and for his coach.

This weekend, I have a couple of really good friends who will also be doing their best and not wasting the gift (of health, I would say).

God speed to Annabel, Barb, and Barbie who will run the Nike Women's in San Francisco, CA and Rolando who will run his first half marathon in Long Beach, CA. May your run be filled with blessings and may you find peace and joy in every mile marker you pass. Do your best and don't waste the gift! Have fun out there!

May the wind be always at your back!

Sending forth blessing to 4 friends of mine who are running races today.

To Melanie and Steve running the Urban Cow Half Marathon in Sacramento, CA and
To Annabelle and Enrique running the Rock and Roll Half in San Jose, CA.

Here's an excerpt from the traditional Irish blessing --

May the wind be always at your back! God bless!