Such Things

Frosty Glory

I must say, I just love a bright winter day, and you know,

thick frost can be just as beautiful as snow.

One morning I went out for a run, and then I headed back with my camera. 

On days like these I can't help but think of God and his glory.  I thought I heard a quote that said, the most important thing about a person is how they think of God. 
 

A lot of people relate to God as Father, and I can see and understand that a bit, but what I really understand is God the Creator.  When I get out into nature, I get a real sense of who God is.

I understand what it is to create something beautiful and to want to treasure and protect it, and that's how God feels about us,

our children and every person on earth.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

  Day after day they pour forth speech;
       night after night they display knowledge."

Psalm 19:1-2

Why Run?

A long, long, long, long time ago, I commented on a blog post about running.  The author wrote back and asked me, "why do you run?"  I thought I'd answer her now in this post.

Running is a cheap and easy sport.

You can run anywhere, anytime, 

any season, any weather,

alone,

or with friends.

It gets you out into nature.

You can go far and fast.

You can take your child on a mini adventure.

You can converse,  You can compete,

You can listen to tunes,

You can enjoy it and feel that rush.

In my opinion, it's the closest thing to flying.

"When I run, I feel God's pleasure", Eric Liddel, Chariots of Fire

If you haven't guessed yet, I really like running.  It's the best form of exercise there is.

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary; and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:27-31

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends!

Sunrise Run

I've been inspired by some to rise earlier in the morning and start my day with a run.  It can be a bit painful to get out of bed, but once I am out and running, I can't describe to you what a pleasure it is.

I ran this time, a couple of weeks ago with the camera in a mini backpack.

Even now I notice the subtle changes.  The blossoms are almost gone and the tulips have lost almost all of their petals.

The sun rising over the lake is nothing short of brilliant.

I think these Canada Geese agree.

Or perhaps this is an everyday sight for them.

The sun gets brighter with each lap.

Then home to say good morning to Mark and the kids, along with a fresh cup of coffee and a shower.

Happy weekend, and for those of you from B.C. enjoy the long weekend!!!

Friday's Fav. Five

I was just about post about the highlights of my week, when I found a similar kind of post at Islandsparrow, a lovely blog from across the country in PEI (also recently added to my blogroll).  It's a Friday Fav. five list hosted by Suzanne.  So here's my favourites list:

An afternoon of snow followed by two days of bright sunshine beaming off the white.

My friend's homemade chicken noodle soup with meatballs (still trying out those food photos, and thanks for all the tips!)

I really do get a high off of nature, especially when it's covered in snow and I'm running through it.

watching and observing with interest, and best of all:

playing with good friends.

Oh, and a highlight of my week was a desert and a "blog talk" night with Martina, FreshMD plus a little perusing down Main Street, window shopping at some very, very cute stores.  I definitely recommend it if you are in Vancouver!

Thanks, God for an amazing week!

Smooth Power

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

Driving.  When my dad was teaching me how to drive, I remember him telling me that when you are driving well, it's as if your body has become one with the car.  Now that's how I feel when I drive.  Free.  In control.  All children are fastened in their seats and we are cruising.  Or when I'm running.  Fast, pumped, my soul meeting the open sky.  Wind, cloud and sun.  In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell says, "when I run, I feel God's pleasure."  That gives me shivers, because I know exactly what he means.  A great moment in teaching or playing and laughing with my kids.  What is it that makes you feel complete, empowered and makes you say, "this is me"?  I call it smooth power.  It may only be for a fleeting moment.  It may be something planned or simply unexpected, but it's a moment when one can say, "I know exactly what I'm doing", "this is what life is all about," no worries, and everything in the world just seems right.

For almost a year I have been posting about the concept of power.  I took this idea from the philosophy of William Glasser, whose ideas are largely used in Restitution.  Glasser suggests that we have more needs than just the basic needs for food and shelter.  He believes that we also have basic needs for power, pleasure, belonging and freedom. For how many days would we entirely skip eating?  Probably none.  But how many days can pass where we haven't had fun or free time for ourselves?  Glasser believes that these are needs just as important for healthy survival.  These photos were taken in Boston along the Inner Harbour.  As I ran, I did have a thought of returning someday for the marathon.  Smooth power is about moving through life knowing who you are and whose you are.  Being empowered by the Spirit of God and doing what He's created you to do.  Living dreams. 

 

This is my last post on power, although it's something that I will continue to meditate on and I want to continually seek God's power in my life.  I'm hoping now to move my focus to worth and belonging.   I'm happy to be finished my work days and I think I'll be off for a run tomorrow.  I hope you're having a great week too!!

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

Ephesians 1:18-23

The Power of Thankfulness and Praise

When I think of God, I often think of the sky.  Vast, majestic and full of glory.  Like the sunrise early Sunday morning as I ran around the lake, covered with a faint mist.  Then my eyes move to view the beauty that's around me. Canadian Geese slowly floating along and one or two lone fishermen casting their lines.  A father walking with his two sons down for a morning stroll, tennis players, whose breath can be seen in the cold fall air, swinging at the ball with a firm arm.  Smoke rising from chimneys. Now the sun has turned from red to gold, shining down on the yellow and crimson tree tops. 

I believe in the power of gratitude.  But for me gratitude goes further than simply expressing thanks.  I am expressing thanks and praise to Almighty God, the one who created me. 

The one who is good and is the giver of all good things.

God doesn't ask us to ignore the trials, pain, worry and wants. In fact, He asks us to bring those things to Him.  He doesn't want us to deny the struggles, tears and sickness with a forced kind of thanks. 

What I do think He desires, is for us to to refocus. 

To give our struggles up to Him, into His care and to turn and see what is beautiful,

what is good,

and in some cases, what is really true.

"Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

 

His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."  Philippians 4:4-8

Terry Fox Run 2008

Terry Fox is one of the most inspiring Canadian Heroes I know.   His passion, dream, determination, will and endurance are beyond admirable. 

Everyday he ran a marathon.  Every day.  He ran on lonely highways through the worst of weather, enduring pain, discouragement and eventually the spread of cancer which took his life in 1981.

When I was a student teacher, my sponsor teacher took out a gigantic folder of photos and newspaper clippings from the time that Terry Fox did his Marathon of Hope across Canada in 1980.  She was making a display for the school.  As she put in the staples, she told me she had attended Terry Fox Secondary High School and that every year, her family attended the Terry Fox Hometown Run.

Her enthusiasm about Terry Fox got me really interested in who he was, his dream of a cure for cancer, and the run. 

Now every year, rain or shine, I attend the Hometown run myself.  Even the year that we taught in Kuwait, Mark and I ran the Terry Fox Run put on by the Canadian Embassy.  Apparently Kuwait's run raises one of the highest amounts of money in the world.

As we approach the run, the crowds are already gathering.  This is the largest turn-out they've had for a couple of years.  The weather is fantastic.  There are bands playing, and people registering, buying t-shirts and finding a place in the starting line.

The run starts with O Canada, then speeches by local people who new Terry, such as his gym teacher, and often Betty Fox, Terry's mother, is there to give her heart-warming words.  One year we got to talk to her after the run. (I am proud to say that I was the first female to finish that year in Pt. Moody!)  Betty Fox was so fascinated with Miranda, who was only five months old then.  Rick Hanson, another Canadian hero, usually speaks at the Hometown run and we saw him come across the finish line today!

Just before the race starts, Never Give Up on a Dream is sung, which brings tears to many eyes.

Then off we all go...  Some running for fun,

some running for family and friends with cancer, and some in victory of cancer that's been overcome.

The run is 2.5K, 6K or 10K.  There are runners, walkers, bikers, roller bladers, and in our case, a runner, a walker, a stroller and two on scooters.

I think what I take from this experience most is not so much about cancer, itself, but about Terry's character.  About his dream and how he followed after that dream with such perseverance.

And now, years later, his vision continues as people all over the world run for Terry's cause, and the money and research has helped people to survive.  

Now that's the kind of legacy that I hope to pass on to my children. 

And them to theirs.

Creatures of the Air

One bright and sunny morning I was running at Pt. Roberts, where we have a beach cottage.  My mind was thick with worries, disappointments and some good old self-pity.  So much so that I was not even aware of things around me.  Something then turned my attention outward and I saw a field stretching out a long ways towards the ocean.  The wind was gently blowing the tall grass, some blades were the ones that look like wheat, great for playing "bush" or "tree".  The boats of the Marina were in the background with the familiar sound of the "boat bells" clanging as they were jostled by the wind.  As my eyes focused closer on the field, I saw that dotted between the grass were some dark-coloured birds, perhaps pecking the ground for food.  As my eyes lifted, I saw more birds scattered, and then noticed that the birds actually spread as a great flock throughout the expanse of the field. Together, the birds were moving about in the field as if dancing in time with the grass and the wind.  It was a wondrous moment and I felt the Lord speaking to my heart to say, "you could have run right by this field missing the splendor if you had not turned your eyes out to see."  That was the beginning of this "such things" habit that I now enjoy.  Continually refocusing my mind on things that are lovely, true and right.

"Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they? "

Matthew 6:25-26

It is exciting to see other blog projects such as the Noticing Project that I first saw on Alicia Alferman's blog, Mayfly and "surrounded" by Toni of simple sparrow that focus on vision and beauty.

Sunday Morning Run

There's something about the feel of early morning.  This morning I headed out on my new favourite route.

I started on the path behind our house.

There are views of the Coquitlam River along the way...

bridges...

This is the infamous "blue bridge" that stretches right over the river...

I've since learned that it is really called the "Patricia Bridge", but I have never heard anyone call it that.  Here is a view of the river from the Patricia/blue bridge.

The river here is shallow and runs right next to the path....

This detour off the main path runs along a group of houses that back onto a pond...

Now I leave the woods and head down the street to Lafarge Lake Park...

Oh look!  It's the annual car trunk sale today!

I love to descend this hill and as I move past the trees, the lake comes into view...

I wish you could see the cute belly boats scattered on the lake...

People love to fish here...

Well this is the path back towards home.  Down left and then right.  The clouds were covering the usual view of snow-capped mountains in the background.  I failed to mention until now that I actually biked this route today, so that I could carry my honkin' camera with me.  Thanks for coming along!

Do What You Love

I woke to the sun beaming through my window this morning.  I had planned to do a Superstore shop while the girls were at school, which now did not appeal to me at all.  So I decided instead to do a run with Myles in the jogging stroller at Mundy Park, right near Megan's preschool.  It was a great choice.

We did a loop, wandered down a "lake" trail and discovered this hidden lake.  After school, we had a spontaneous playdate with friends at the park and later in the afternoon I actually sat down on my lounger on the patio.  I want to do nothing but savour and enjoy my last few months at home full time.  Oh, and the groceries you may ask?  Well, that's what husbands on the way home from work are for!  It was a short list, so thanks for adding to my enjoyment Mark!