“Never, in peace or war, commit your virtue or your happiness to the future. Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment ‘as to the Lord.’ It is only our daily bread that we are encouraged to ask for. The present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.”
—C.S. Lewis, “Learning in Wartime” (1939)
It takes enduring courage and generosity to learn about an injustice and remain committed to seeking the best solutions for others over the long-haul. I want to keep becoming that quality of man.
To celebrate my 40th birthday I’ll be doing a triathlon as a fundraiser for Next Generation Ministries (NGM), aka the FortyMan 40.3. (Due to recent bike crash, I hope to race later this Summer; birthday is June 17th, also Father’s Day this year.)
In forty words, here’s my WHY:
Which one hugs today: Apathy or Angst?
What if both try their worst?
Duty and pleasure are friends not foes,
Honor and risk-taking as well.
Find the best motivation: Love produces Hope.
How about you? Let’s make Forty unlonely, man.
How you can join in » see FortyMan fundraiser. Continue reading
Friends, I write to you today to say THANK YOU for supporting the Loneliman 39.3 fundraiser for NGM — and to note there is still time to join in the fun! Give today! 😉 Even if we haven’t met, your birthday gift doesn’t go to me: it’s all to fund Next Generation Ministries.
Wrote about WHY here, in thirty-nine words:
Behold the moment, weigh your purpose.
Duty and beauty join as one;
Joy of obedience, whether together or lonely, man.
What’s a man’s legacy?THEY are. Invest in the next generation.
Finish well.
In lieu of presents, give Hope!
I wanted to do a triathlon (a collection of endurance events I enjoy) for a purpose beyond myself. I’m friends with Paul and Pam Hunter; they are people I immensely enjoy and love. So being part of their team in the mission of Next Generation — changing Uganda one person at a time! — made a crazy idea seem wise. Now, some person have noted that I must be borderline crazy to want to do three hours of exercise at threshold for fun. Yes, this was my favorite kind of birthday party. Yet the joy I got to experience, being with Paul and others along the route made this a far from a lonely experience (see the highlight video below, which Papa Paul captured and edited with love and creativity). In fact, after competing in multiple endurance races, like triathlons and a marathon, I must say this was the least lonely I’ve ever been during a race. Here’s why: Continue reading
This Saturday I reach three bakers’ dozen, turning thirty-nine years old. Pausing this moment to contemplate the milestone (like at 38), and envision the road ahead.
Treating the occasion, and my life, as a race, with a purpose beyond myself. A summary in thirty-nine words:
Behold the moment, weigh your purpose.
Duty and beauty join as one;
Joy of obedience, whether together or lonely, man.
What’s a man’s legacy?
THEY are. Invest in the next generation.
Finish well.
In lieu of presents, give Hope!
For my 39th birthday on June 17th I’ll be doing a triathlon as a fundraiser for Next Generation Ministries (NGM), aka the Loneliman 39.3. It will be about three hours of grace-driven effort!
How you can join in:
How long will it take? Swim 1.0 mile, then bike 32.1 miles, then run 6.2 miles. Aiming for three hours.
I like running in the dark. At first, it was unsettling to be surrounded by so much, well, darkness. Yet this happy discipline has grown on me. A habit of sorts, forged over these last few years (in patience), and I run early in part because that is the time of day when I’m not needed elsewhere. Four or five AM is well before responsibility gives a hug and won’t let go.
A question often comes up: isn’t it dangerous to run in the dark?
(You’d probably have to ask about the dangers the millions upon millions of women and children face while traveling miles upon miles every day to fetch water— six kilometers on average. Did you know that every day 200 Million hours are amassed in fetching water, mostly unsafe water, in developing nations? You can change that for someone, in just an hour. Join the 6K for Water. Do it!)
Running in the dark, where I live, is probably not as dangerous as running in the daytime. You see, there’s this phenomenon of being surrounded by massive bullets flying around, without much attention paid to where they’re going. (Cars, those bullets are cars driven by people.) That is, a daytime runner has to be constantly on the watch for inattentive drivers. Distracted, looking at devices, not looking for a runner, walker of cyclist. Pedestrians have the Right-of-Way, until they don’t and it’s too late. Plus, early mornings are quiet and peaceful, even (or especially?) in rain or snow; these are times I relish for moments to think, pray, BE. The lonely miles are always accompanied by LIGHT and reflectivity. Simply investments in rechargeable hand lights and headlamps make one seen and safe at the same time. Dark mornings are when one must bring a lamp. And a gift from our church family last Fall made capturing some of these moments quiet fun. “GoPro take photo,” is a simple voice command that later reveals a beautiful scene. Like this one …
In meditative moments like this, the Scripture comes into focus:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Let the reader understand: there is plenty of darkness even in the light of day.
Coupled with this reflection on that verse:
“We are walkers through the city of this world, and we are often called to go out into its darkness; let us never venture there without the light-giving word, lest we slip with our feet. Each man should use the word of God personally, practically, and habitually, that he may see his way and see what lies in it. When darkness settles down upon all around me, the word of the Lord, like a flaming torch, reveals my way. Having no fixed lamps in eastern towns, in old time each passenger carried a lantern with him that he might not fall into the open sewer, or stumble over the heaps of ordure which defiled the road. This is a true picture of our path through this dark world: we should not know the way, or how to walk in it, if Scripture, like a blazing flambeau, did not reveal it.”
—C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David on Ps. 119:105
It must be asked: Do you use the word of God personally, practically, and habitually, that you may see your way and see what lies in it? (Find some good helps here.)
Will you do this in the early hours, or in the “darkness” of daytime, even before discouragements and disagreements mount their assault? When all the good news and fake news and whatever news dissuades your heart from keeping up the good work of following Jesus no matter the cost? If you do this, in the darkness, your feet will not slip.
The most healthful thing you can do today is not so much run a mile, in darkness or daylight, but rather this: take the lamp of the Word of God and let it shine brightly on the world, on your mind, bringing light to your heart. Then you will be able to see clearly, to “capture” with the lens of the mind’s eye the beauty AND brokenness in each scene. Then you will be able to see reality as it really is. In His light do we see light. Even, and especially, in darkness.
(Photos by the author. Please do not use without my permission; happy to lend permission if you ask.)Race day is here. The last few days have been restful work and play. Today we go for it.
#899, racing for Team World Vision
This journey began the first of the year to attempt to raise funds for World Vision water projects as a noble goal much bigger than self-improvement. I enjoy physical training and yet the challenge has been much bigger than just waking up at 4 AM every day with intention. My initial goal was $5K, providing life-giving water for 100 kids in East Africa. Last month we surpassed that, and take we’ve gone further together to bring water to 128 kids ($6,402). I’ve since raised the goal to $7,030, which would mean two kids receive water for each mile I endure on Sunday. The more given, the faster I will swim, bike, and run.
There’s is the real endurance, and the true heroes must make the trek for water, unclean water at that,
In fact, every minute a child under five dies of diarrhea caused by contaminated water, poor sanitation, and improper hygiene.
With the collective efforts of donors and workers with World Vision, the water effect has been huge: every thirty seconds water is provided for another person! So, the gap is close, and we can go there with more urgency.
Many have asked about the race on Sunday. It’s called Ironman Arizona 70.3 (IMAZ 70.3 for short), and the “70.3” notes the total miles. It’s a Half-Ironman (which are 140.6 miles), and I hope to cover the 1.2-mile swim in 30-35 minutes, the 56-mile bike ride in 2:40—2:55, and the 13.1-mile half-marathon run in about 1:40-ish. It will be a hot day out there, and an optimal race will have me finishing about the same time as my brother John, in about five hours (we hope).
This week I fade from mid-thirties to “late-thirties,” and so hit pause to consider the milestone and road ahead. A summary in thirty-eight words:
Shadow of life lengthens,
While the spark inside brightens.
The path to joy becomes clearer, obedience lonelier.
Healed back, finding strength, embracing weakness.
What makes a man? Not what … WHO!
Finish well.
In lieu of presents … GIVE WATER! 1
An estimation of times and efforts for Saturday’s solo training race:
Will you join in to provide life-saving water for 100 kids in Africa? (Every $50 provides water for life!) 
