SHHHH Be Still

Karen and I where reminiscing the other day on how long we’ve known each other, it’s been 20 awesome years. In that time Karen and I have learned so much about each other and have knitted our relationship so close that we can be spending time with each other, not say a word for a while and be very comfortable just enjoying being in the presence of each other. This might sound weird because usually when you are with some one, you want to fill the time with something and silence is not what comes to mind first. This is particularly true when you are just getting to know some one; silence during this time can be very awkward.

When I think about the time I hang with Jesus is mostly about “doing” something; weather that is talking, complaining, singing, sharing, asking, singing, listening, renewing my mind or whatever else but always busy, always filling the time with something. There have been a few times when I’ve tried to quiet my mind, “just be” in God’s presence and found them to be an amazingly refreshing, satisfying, fulfilling and peaceful. I wonder how God feels when His children are just close to Him just in awe of who He is? (Psalm 46:10)

Thirteen Point One

I was a freshman in college when a history professor shared with us, very proudly and with a huge smile on his face, he had just finished running the Boston Marathon. His introduction to that day's lecture lost me for the rest of the class day dreaming of how some day I too would run the prodigious race. Even as a dream back then (for a teenager who was in constant soccer training and who thought a Saturday-10-mile-just for-the-heck-of-it-run was fun) it was not far fetched.

Fast-forward some 20+ years. Last year I decided to make good on that crazy dream and signed up to run a half marathon with only 6 weeks to train. That memorable Sunday in April I finished the race with a time of 1:58+ and my body going on a 4-month strike thanks to my under-training. It was not until October that I finally could run a few miles with out some body part resisting. Lessons learned: "there are not short cuts"!!!!

This past Sunday I ran my second organized race in my life, another half marathon, the Five Points of Life in Gainesville FL and home of the Gator Nation. What a difference the right amount of training does. The first 5 miles where just a wonderful time of people watching, waiving and thanking the spectators for there cheers and support. During these "easy" miles I was just taking some time to pray thankfully and worship Him for the chance just to be there. I was totally surprised that during miles 6 through 9 not only was I continuing to enjoy the race but also I was actually having small chats with some runners. At mile 8 Matt Glidden found me and after taking some pictures ran with me encouraging me and giving me support, "Thanks a lot Matt the pictures turn out great". Miles 10 trough 12 became harder but running trough the University of Florida and especially the stadium made the pain more tolerable. At mile 12 I had been keeping up with a group of runners for about 5 miles and decided it was time to see how much my training was going to pay off..... it did! I had two main goals for this run; numero 1 was to finish under 2 hours and numero 2 to make sure I did not stress my body the same way I did on my first run. Certainly the mission was accomplished! Here are the results of my race:

Time:1:56:49  Pace:8:54  Bracket Place:18  Overall Place:151   

So why did I start this blog with my college memory? Well you see this race is the first benchmark on my journey to some day run that race in Beantown.

A special thanks to my trip-buddy and #1 fan this weekend, Mica. I love you.

Work in Progress

Some time ago I was standing at the pro tee of one of our construction projects looking at all the work completed and yet to be done as we were in the early stages of what we do “Golf Course Construction”. The golf hole was a disaster to the inexperienced eye but to the Designer it was coming along as he could see the end product through all the ground work.

At that moment I was reminded that God (our Designer) is at work in our lives and although we will go though the drainage, irrigation, cart-path, bunker, tee and green constructions of life; He is at work and He sees the end result, a beautiful product of his workmanship.

Philippians 1:6
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus".

A Dream Come True!

My journey to become a US citizen started when my mom filed residency applications with the INS for her 4 youngest children in the mid 1970’s when I was only but a child growing up in Tijuana Mexico. It took a long 10 years for us to receive our legal residency of this country but when we did, it as a time of relief and celebration.

The law states a resident must be living in the US continuously for a period of 5 consecutive years before a citizenship request can be made. As soon as I qualified for citizenship I applied and it was not very long before I was summoned for the first part of the process, an interview to show my proficiency in English and US history/government. Since I had graduated from college not to long from this time, I trusted my memory to pass both tests only to find out I would fail the history test. I was angry and very disappointed for being so overconfident and full of my self. It would take another 10 years before I would have the same opportunity and meet the requirements to become a US Citizen. In 2006 I finally found my self raising my right hand swearing to uphold all this beautiful country, which had received me with open arms, stands for.

My fist act of citizenship was registering to vote. History had showed me the trials and tribulations of many who suffered for the right to this patriotic act. I also had pondered how many of our soldiers past and present had not only put their lives on hold and risk but also paid the ultimate price for this very democracy. Voting in my mind was not only a duty and responsibility but also a privilege passed on to us by many patriots.

Tuesday January 29, 2008 I voted for the first time. It was my turn to make a difference and be a part of the shaping of this beautiful country. I’ve not felt so much anticipation to participate in something as I did that day. It was only a party primary and Florida amendment vote but who can minimize this event to a man who came from a foreign and humble beginning to this country who dreamed early on of one day being a part of the very fabric that makes this country our America the Beautiful.

You see like me there are many who leave their place of origin looking for a better prosperous life…exactly what this country makes a provision for as our founding fathers proclaimed in the declaration of Independence……..
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
We might look a little different, speak with a funny accent, have strange traditions and difficult names to pronounce, but deep inside we are driven by the desire to be a part of something grand, a part of the very dream our founding fathers had.