The Race of My Life

45 year young Latisha

I sat with a good friend of mine the other day who asked if I would be mailing my birthday letters this year.  It was my intention - since 45 is a milestone birthday, but after running my #nomedalhalfmarathon I decided that this was the best medium to share with my family and friends
my birthday sentiments.

Dearest loved ones,

Today I woke up and got ready to run my "No Medal Half Marathon."  Yes, 13.1* miles without the crowds, fanfare and a medal at the end. The fanfare (if any) was left to my 3 who rode the trail on their bikes.  This "race" was my ode to Him; thanking Him for every step He allowed me take and an unspoken reminder to myself of who, why and what I am.  I had one goal in mind - finish.  

It was still dark outside when I loaded their bikes onto the truck.  I wanted to start early while it was still cool.  I loaded the electric air pump and decided against bringing the manual pump.  It was overkill.  We'd be fine.

When we arrived at Silver Comet Trail the boys started to pump air in their tires and learned quickly that it wasn't working.  It actually deflated the tires!  This is a very popular trail that's used by thousands and not one of the 10 bikers that I asked had an extra pump.  The last rider suggested we try another trailhead 4 miles away.

After reloading our bikes and traveling to the other trailhead, getting their tires pumped at the trail's bike shop, I started my race.

Jalyn decided to ride alongside of me while the boys went ahead.  Not too far, but far enough that we could see them at a great distance.  Miles 1 to 6 were easygoing.  I ran them at an impressive pace.  Jalyn and I talked about any and everything.  Even breaking up the monotony with songs.  The turnaround came quick and soon I was headed back to where I started.

Miles 7 and 8 weren't so easy.  My pace slowed and I got bored.  Jalyn's company wasn't helping the miles pass by.  I needed something.

Mile 9 came and I could feel the change in temperature.  My cool start was a distant memory to the heat that I was feeling.  It must have been too hot for the wildlife too, because we ran up on a snake that was slithering on the trail.  I was glad for the distraction, but I knew I had 4 more miles to complete.  I couldn't stay and watch the snake.

I was well into mile 10 when I noticed my toes were hurting.  Then my feet felt like they were on fire.  Darryle was still riding ahead, Jacob and Jalyn swapped places a few times to encourage me and ride ahead to look for hills (there were no hills) or anything that I may need to be aware of.  It took everything in me to place my feet on the pavement.

[exhale]

Darryle slowed down enough for me to get his attention.  I told him I think I'll be fine if I could just give my feet a rest off of the pavement.  He suggested that we switch shoes.  He would run and I would ride his bike.

"Your feet will be swimming in my shoes, but you should put them on and I'll wear yours."

It was the relief I needed.

I rode his bike for about .5 mile before I started to feel bad about him squeezing in my shoes.  The break did me a lot of good, but as soon as I was pounding the pavement again, the fire was there to meet me.  I didn't stop.  I needed to finish now.  They were counting me.  I was counting on me!  I don't remember praying, but I felt like I was relying solely on my faith to get me through.

By the time I got toward the end of mile 12, I told them to just go ahead and I'd see them at the end.  The boys went.  Jalyn strayed before she too rode to meet me at the end.

I don't know how much time passed before I began to see the end at that point.  I don't know if it felt like a long time or if the time flew by.  I do know that they had to be two football fields away from me when I spotted them.  They looked like ants.  As I got closer, I started to think about the race - my life.  Every mile I ran was my life.  Easygoing, carefree, fast, tried, tested...

A flood of emotions landed on me.  Jacob was walking toward me clapping, but all I could hear and feel was exhilaration, tears, joy and strength.  My chest was heaving from crying, my face was distorted with smiles and confusion.  I didn't know what I was feeling.  My emotions were all over the place.  Then came Jalyn.  I could clearly see the finish and my pace picked up a little.  They were smiling and cheering.  Then there was Darryle, my cool, not very affectionate teenager who was waiting with open arms, cheering for me. I finished.  I finished.  I finished!

My birthday wish to you is to finish.  Finish strong.  Finish well.  Finish by faith.  Don't get distracted or discouraged.  Lean on others when you need to, rely on Him and know that the end is sweet!

Thank you so much for making my story worth living and finishing.  I love and appreciate you all.

~ Latisha, Tish, Mom, Sister Cousin, Aunt Tish

*it was actually 13.43 miles

The snake on the trail

Sweet ending

Letter to Latisha

I love you.   I love you heart and soul. I love your first thing in the morning brightness and the late night calming. I love your big, brown eyes, imperfect brows and short, almost invisible eye lashes.  I love your nose; it sits perfectly in the center of your brown, round face.  I even like all of the moles you've accumulated over the years.  I like how they connect you to your part of Granny.  She's beautiful.  Like you.  I love your mouth, the tiny hairs that you try to hide on some of the pictures and the way the corners curl up to reveal a slight dimple.  Your smile is lovely.  Most of all, I love your heart.  So full, giving, caring, and trusting.  Your faith, His Spirit, His grace, His joy, His love.  I love that most about you.   You are lovely Latisha - fearfully and wonderfully made.  Unique and precious.  

Sincerely, 

me

Pacing myself

While running in Piedmont Park today I watched the landscape crew groom and clean up the grassy areas.  I watched other runners, mom's with strollers and pets with their owners as I ran along the gravel track.   Taking it all in I noticed crumbly, dull gravel in contrast to the untouched bright, green grass.  It reminded me of the idiom that speaks about "those with glass houses" and of Matthew 7:3, "And why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye." 

The grass looked inviting, maybe even spoiled. The gravel path I was on however, wasn't as invinting.  It was gray and had some uneven spots.  I imagined the grass feeling more superior than the gravel track.  That's when I heard, "Where are you?  Are you living in a way that is similar to the grassy area; feeling superior or needing more care like on the gravel track?"  Oh that's easy! I know where I live and I hope I live in a way that is recognizable.

I know my house is made of glass and the landscaper that works to keep it clear of stones is named Grace.  Grace wasn't hired.  Grace volunteers every day, rain or shine, whether I want Grace here or not.  Grace is there when I wake up and when I'm sleep.  Grace keeps me from thinking too long about trying to throw a stone or finding a speck in someone elses eyes.  Grace is good for me.  Grace is amazing. 

I took a deep breath in as I thought about that.  Who would I be without God and the grace that He provides?  I need His grace.  Without His grace my glass house would eventually come crashing down.  Imagine me, the person who lies, hides, and falls, throwing, a pebble at or sticking my nose up at someone else's place in Him?

I like the way the Apostle Paul plainly states it in Romans 12:3:
"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

The Message Bible says it this way:
"Living then, . . . in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."

Where do you live?  Do you see your house on the blemish free, grassy field, without so much as an ant hill?  At the end of the day GOD sees all of us as living on the grassy field. Everyday you wake up the HE is preparing the field and clearing the way so that you too can see what HE sees.

The Apple and the Tree

I remember watching my Mom as a little girl.  I thought she did everything with confidence and style.  I wanted to be like her in every way.  As the mother of a daughter, I get glimpses of myself when I see my daughter watching me. 

Recently, while working on a deadline for breath of God I heard my daughter typing away on the computer - she was working on an article too!  When she finished she pleaded with me to publish and share it with others.  I'm keeping my promise.  Will she follow in my footsteps and continue to find joy in writing?  I think so.  I hope so. 

[Minimally edited.  Pictures not included (there were a lot) due to copyright protection]

Micheal Jackson is the best singer. Boys and girls, women and men love him. They treat him like a king and care for him like a son. On YouTube his Remember The Time video got 33,901,810 hits. It was awesome! His Rock My World video got 13,060,657 views. He had a big career and when he died everyone was sad :-(. The day he died the police and ambulance came to his house. We don't know what happened the moment he died, but the doctor did. Everyone was talking about him. Some people cried some people didn’t. Some people were mad and some people were happy, but that isn’t nice to be happy.

Getting back to his videos, in Beat It he got 28,184,372 hits. In Come To Together he got 164,827 hits that’s some hits! He and his bothers made a band called The Jackson 5 and as he got older he barely sung with them and that’s why he went solo. The Lord blessed him and Micheal blessed God. Micheal had a skin disease that changed his skin color from brown to white and it's kind of weird. Micheal’s full name is Micheal Joesph Jackson he has 3 kids. Micheal was born on August 29. He was married to Lisa Marie Presley. He is really shy. He was the middle child in his family. He loves kids. He called his house Never Land. He was a collector. He loved to dance. He was a good singer. I don’t know why, but my Dad says he's weird. There are a lot more things about him that I don’t know, but I will always love him and I will never forget about him.

You Did That!

I love L-O-V-E love.  I love how it makes the heart flutter and skip a beat.   I love the high, highs and the depth of the lows.  I love the giggle in a baby who discovers love, the loving embrace of an elderly couple, the deep love a parent has for their child.

I've been in love twice in my life.  The first time I was so swept away that I rode the waves of excitement, disappointment, passion and heartbreak like I was on a float in the middle of a major storm.

What I've learned about love, loving and being loved:

Love is not flighty.
Love is solid, grounded, purposeful and intentional.
Love heals.
Love can't be faked.  When you see it you know.  When you hear it there's little doubt.  Listen to the next, "I love you."
Love always forgives.
Love doesn't fight for attention.  It's the largest thing in the room and the most quiet.
Love is bold, fearless and relentless.
Love grows, reproduces, lives.
Love will make you cry with joy, excitement, heartache and loss.
Love is not selfish...


I was minding my own business breathing and it came my way. It caused my breath to pause and check it out - LOVE.  Love did that!

Monuments and Memories

I believe I am a colorful type of person. I'm artsy, cheerful, a bit adventurous and I love to laugh.  Yet, there is something peaceful and wonderfully pleasing about our nation's capital to me.  Yes, it's fairly flat, the buildings run along the landscape in a monotonous pattern - stone, square, stone, square, stone...  But, the history, the monuments, the movements inspire me.  When I moved here I wanted this to be home.  I envisioned one day that I would be sitting on the balcony of a loft, overlooking New York Avenue sipping a cup of TAZO Green Tea in my robe and slippers. For ten years I created memories while I waited for my vision to become a reality.  I marched in this city, I rubbed elbows with those on Capitol Hill, had dinner with Rosa Parks, I fell in love, I had my heart broken, I found lifelong friends. I became an adult, a Christan and a wife. 

Yesterday as I was walking along The National Mall I thought about the monuments. Not the monuments on The Mall, but the monuments that I created (we create).  Those monuments that we go to in order to recapture a time in our past - attempts to re-live or resurrect a memory.  There is a reason why God moves us from one chapter of our lives to another. The Bible gives us so many examples and reasons of this very thing from Abraham to Paul, prospering to healing.  We oftentimes make the assumption that familiar always equates to safe, fun, easy, relatable. When in actuality it may just be monotonous - stone, square, stone, square. . .

Then the LORD told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1, NLT

Leave those monuments, customs and other things and go to the place that I will show you.  A place where you will create new memories, a new life, new experiences and challenges. 

I will cherish the memories that I created.  I will smile, laugh, shake my head and remember them all, keeping in mind that they can't be reborn or relived.  I am a colorful kind of person.  I like variety, adventure, art and laughter. 

What about you.  Have you created monuments that you are trying to resurrect?  Do you find yourself repeating the same patterns in your life?  Are your memories keeping you from moving forward?  Don't get stuck in what appears to be familiar, safe and easy.  Life has so many opportunities to be seized. Trust Him and go.

A Time for Everything

Ahhh, I love the crisp, fall air.  I dream of running (or driving) down long, winding roads looking at the rich landscape of orange, red, purple, pink, brown and green leaves.  It's a beautiful time of year.  Not too cold, not too hot.  Though, as beautiful as it is to my hungry eyes, there are drastic changes that are being made that are not seen.

Our lives are this way - seasonal.  There is a time for everything, we either accept it or reject it. We can't get away from change.  A tree, that was created to change, can't avoid becoming part of the fall palette many of us love.  Change is certain, we must learn to embrace it.

What would spring be without winter's rest?  Part of our joy comes from seeing spring flowers rising from their winter slumber and hearing the sounds of squirrels scampering or new birds singing.  We need those changes.  We expect those changes.  Embrace them. Usher in something new, a stronger you, a healthier relationship, a wise perspective, a fresh start. 

Ahhh, change.  Allow me to open the door of my mind and heart and embrace the time that is before me.

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct, 
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part, 
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go, 
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up, 
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, The Message)