Strong Medicine.....

I was a sickly child.  Not too bad, however, I was hospitalized for scarlatina and one time as a toddler for taking my mother's weight control pills (I thought they were candy,....hush!)  I've had allergic reactions to lots of things, such as citric acid and cats. I've broken out in hives and a skin rash called Pityriasis Rosea. I used to say that I was allergic to Spring and there were several years that I didn't go a winter season without being treated for strep throat.  I am grateful, however because I realize that every time I suffered an illness, I was treated effectively with the appropriate medicine. Whether it was Benadryl or Penicillin, I was given the appropriate dosage so that I could become healthy.

I admit, I haven't been the best pill taker either. I still gag excessively to this date, when I have to take horse pills! Truth be told, no medicine really tastes good going down. Even when they try to put a cherry or bubblegum flavoring in my daughter's medicine, she still complains that she smell the meds!

With all of that in mind, I came across some really strong medicine this morning during my quiet time. I am sure I'd read it before, but it hadn't hit me so strongly......

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV84)

So here is the strong medicine: If you are not being disciplined by God for the wrong you do, then you might not be His!  Check out who your Daddy is first before you run around saying you are God's child and you are out doing whatever you want to do without conviction! Ouch! Is all could say to that, when it came to me.  

We have become such a liberal society that anything goes. A patient of mine said it best. "Yeah many of us say we are Christians, but it depends on how you spell it!" If we are using the name, but not taking on the family qualities, then we might not be who we say we are.  I've heard fathers say, "We are Joneses and we don't act that way!" Or, "In the Ramsey home, this is how we do this!"

I am afraid all too often, we are calling ourselves children of the Most High but acting like well...somebody else's children.  My mom asked me the other day, what is a non-negotiable in my life and she said it had to be personal.  That meant for example, for her abortion is not an option, but because of where she is in life, that stance really doesn't directly impact her.  My answer to her was that I don't plan on ever being a hypocrite again!  That is a non-negotiable for me!  And I've done my best to live that out this year.  To be honest, it hasn't been fun either.  I've lost friends and damaged relationships.  And while that saddens me, I recognize that making God sad by not acting like His child, was more damaging to whom I am, than what I have or haven't accomplished here on earth.

I heard a lady on the radio say that being a Christian might be the loneliest job on earth!  I understood where she was coming from and she concluded her statement by saying that just because you are lonely, doesn't mean that you are alone.

Strong medicine? Yep!  Does it taste bad going down?  Yep!  Does it even make you gag a little?  Yep!....But the rewards of health and well-being are so much greater!  The cool thing about God and His word is that He has a cure for every sin known to man.  If you are a liar, God is the truth!  If you are a cheat, He is a provider!  If you are unfaithful, He is faithful.  If you are selfish and self-serving, He is selfless and self-giving.  If you are cold and heartless, He is warm and heart-filled.  Your medicine isn't working!  Its like taking Robitussin for your diabetes!....Its pointless!

And whatever you do. do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he had done, an there is no partiality. Colossians 3:23-25 NKJV)

BTW,  I haven't forgotten about posting about my natural hair and running missions.  I will have something exciting to share really soon!......

Until the Springbok takes some more medicine......

Whose Your Daddy?



Hey,

Had a wonderful conversation and prayer with the Anointed Wives Ministry on Thursday 11/1/12, discussing the impact of fatherlessness on women/wives. Thanks for having me Felicia! This is an under-served topic in the Christian community, but it appears to be one in which many women can relate to.

God has charged me with this subject and there is more in store, so please stay tuned, but I wanted to share my notes with you from our devotion to help me be accountable to His mission.

The lesson was entitled, "Whose Your Daddy?" I immediately thought of the Maury Show. We get really drawn into the subject of who a child's father is on the segments where Maury announces, "When it comes to 4 year old "so-n-so" , Mr. So-n-so, you are not the father!" The audience and television viewers begin to rant and rave, the momma looses her mind and runs into the walls and the man who was just freed from the responsibility, does the Running Man and Crip Walks down the stage! Very little thought goes into what happens to the child after the show. We put little thought into the void that may never be filled in the life of the child. Even less thought is put into what the female babies have to endure in life without a dad.

My father story is really the passion behind my study of this subject. As I complete my work on this

journey, I will share in detail what happened to me, but in a nutshell, my father was a huge part of my life until about 12 years old. My parent's divorce and my father's subsequent divorce from me impacted my life in many detrimental ways.  It wasn't until years later and the reconciliation of my relationship with my dad, was I able to come to grips with the self inflicted damage I caused based on the excuse that my father had not done his job. I thank God for the deliverance of my father and me.  But the story continues......

So, entertain this survey: How many ladies reading this, didn't know their dads at all? How many know their dads, but didn't grow up with him in the home? Maybe he provided some financial backing occasionally, but not consistently? Maybe he passed away at an early age? What about those whose dad was in the home, but was abusive; either used drugs or alcohol, was involved extramarital affairs, was abusive physically, sexually or verbally to your mom, you or your siblings?  Did your dad live in your home, but was emotionally distant? Maybe your dad lived in a separate home, but was as present as he could be? Then lastly, I am sure there are ladies reading who had a real dad.

Whatever your relationship is with your dad, I propose to you that it has heavily impacted who you are as a women and even more so as a wife. I want to suggest to you today that we are lacking as wives because of our skewed picture of our dads. And if you are a male, keep reading, I think this will bless you too!

Essentially, we base what we believe about ourselves on some level, on what our fathers believed about us. If you were abandoned by your dad then you could believe you are not worthy of love. If you were rejected by him, then you could think there is nothing you can do to win love. If you were abused by him, then you could think everyone should be able to abuse you. If you were cursed by him, then you will essentially curse others, but if you were genuinely loved by him then you are automatically equipped to genuinely love yourself. An earthly father's true love is an exact portrait of God's love for his children.

What do "good" earthly father's do? The best example I can share with you is the one that I witness on a daily basis. My husband exemplifies fatherhood with my princess or I should say his princess. He is not perfect with it, but he is perfecting his art by being caring, encouraging, loving, guiding and most importantly conscious of his own "daddy void," and how it has impacted his life and in some ways molded him into the man that he is today.

So then what is my proposition?

1. We are unequipped to be effective wives because of  poor relationships with our fathers

• Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)
• Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. (Colossians 3:21 ESV)

Anger is either driven by or leads to fear. We become angry because we fear that we are not loved unconditionally. We are fearful because we are loved conditionally. Fear is then the driving force behind any personality trait or sin developed as a coping mechanism. The need to control and the anxiety that sets in when a young girl feels helpless aids her in developing unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to regain that control. The desires to control, blame, run, fantasize or people please are not sinful in and of themselves, however anything that is used to combat fear without the assistance of the Holy Spirit is bound to cause sin.

Often times, fatherless wives were once girls who said, I didn't have my dad loving me, so no one loves me. I need a man to affirm me and I am afraid no one will, so I will make myself attractive to somebody, anybody in order to not feel afraid that I am not good enough for love. This is how unhealthy lifestyles in young girls manifest.  Surely I am not suggesting that every girl who makes life damaging choices has a daddy void. I realize that there are many roads that can lead down a path demise. But I am suggesting that we look deeply into the lives of young ladies and pinpoint where destructive patterns have been set up and determine if there is some link to an absent or dysfunctional dad relationship.

Take a moment and think about your relationship with your dad? Then think about your relationship with God? Are they similar? Do you trust God the same way you trust your earthly dad?  How does this impact you a wife? In response to fear and anger we sabotage our relationships with our husbands and others in many ways.  We become controlling or blaming; we set up unrealistic expectations for others, we avoid pertinent issues or we begin to people please instead of God please. I promise to share more about these characteristics in the near future.

2. Recognition of being unequipped because of the daddy void is vital

• One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:36-48 ESV)

The lady in the the previous story was no less guilty of her sins then we are.  And yes, if you are using coping mechanisms such as controlling, blaming, running from situations, fantasizing about other situations or people pleasing to combat fear instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to administer grace unto you, you are in sin.  Guilty!  But, just like her we have a Savior ready to accept the acknowledgement of our sin and move us to a place of righteousness.  That's shouting material!!
  
3.God has the ability to equip us regardless of our void

• Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20, 21 ESV)

As wives and as women, we have to believe in the power of God to change our lives and our position in marriage more than we believe in our own power to change our husbands.  Haven't you been doing it your way long enough?  And in the famous words of Dr. Phil,  "How's that working for you?"

4. He wants to equip us
How does He want to do that? Well, it requires us to do something first. We have to make the decision to rest in Him and His word.  God waits for us.  He waits for us, so what are you waiting on?

• "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:25-33 ESV)

When you make the decision that God's way is the best way and that no other way in marriage and in your role as a wife will do, you must then follow these vital steps...... A. Live in a state of forgiveness B. Love unconditionally  C.Seek Him relentlessly D. Allow your fruit to be eaten.  This is a continuous cycle that you must find yourself in at all times.  Forgiveness needs to occur for yourself and others almost instantaneously.  You cannot move forward with the hurts of the past from your dad, from yourself and from your husband holding you back.  Conquer it! Bathe yourself in I Corinthians 13:1-10....its what many call the love chapter.  Devourer it!  Submerse yourself in His word regarding how to be a wife His way versus your way.  Lastly, your daughter, your mother, somebody needs to see the fruit of your hard work and they need to eat it.  You only get the benefits of fruit unless you eat it.  The people around you need to change too!  Not because you tell them but because you show them.

Side note: Stop blaming your mother for your daddy not being there.  She might have been key in his absence, she might have prevented it as a source of protection or she might not have had a valid reason at all.  But what does holding resentment toward her have to do with your growth and development as a daughter of the Most High?....Nothing!

5. Are you willing?
God's daily plea to us as wives is to surrender and to seek Him.  Although its a quiet plea, rest assure, He wants you to be wife of noble character.  He designed you that way.  Yes you, with all of your flaws, imperfections and mistakes.  He makes beautiful things out of us!

• I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me (Proverbs 8:17 ESV)
• But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 ESV)
• And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little; you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you.  But the Lord your God will give them over to you and will confuse them with a might panic until they are destroyed (Deuteronomy 7:22, 23 AMP)

6. Give grace for to your husbands and others
Listen, let's be honest, we haven't been the easiest creatures to deal with in our marriages or in life in general.  If we are honest, we recognize that in some ways we have been punishing our husbands for either being too much like our dads or not enough like him.  While I still believe that husbands have the huge responsibility to love us like Christ loves the church, we still have no excuse not to do our part.

• If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled. (1 Corinthians 13:4-10 MSG)

Love and grace then basically mean being able to wait without becoming anxious or annoyed.  While God is waiting on us to become the best wives we can be, can't we do the same for our husbands?....ummmmmm!

Disclaimer:  OK, I know that was the longest blog entry I have ever generated!  I have so much more to say about this subject.  Please pray with me as I complete the book devoted to this topic.  Its been 8 years in the making and I know that God is no longer just prompting me to do it, He is pushing me in the back!  :) If you enjoyed this blog entry or any others, please subscribe to my blog and any comments are welcomed.

Until the Springbok touches the QWERTY keys again!

If You Are Not A Christian, Don't Read This!

OK,

I put my caution out there and let me say goodbye now to those who will de-friend me as a result of what I have to say......

I am unapologetically a Christ follower.  By definition, a Christian is someone who has Jesus Christ living in them; who believes in the Holy Spirit and shows fruit as evidence of his or her beliefs.  Also a Christian is someone who is changing daily to become more like Jesus. This has nothing to do with any particular denomination, which are all man made, but only about being a follower of Jesus Christ.

So, once again, I strongly discourage anyone who does not fit that definition fully, to read further, because I am sure you will be offended. It is not my intention to sour you or anyone away from where you stand, if that is where you choose to be. Ultimately, however, I believe that it is God's goal to encourage each man and woman to walk in the full knowledge of Christ, but He is a perfect and complete gentleman.  He is not pushy or bossy.   I know that I need grace in this department and I struggled against what I felt He was compelling me to write versus remaining silent.  However, I read recently somewhere that you might need to question your "Christ Card" if you were not willing to be controversial for Him. If persecution is the cost I must pay to stand for God and His beliefs, then I am willing. It's the least I can do since, He gave it all for me!

So, I stand with the gospel and agree with the text in Matthew 10:34-37,  that Christ did not come to make us comfortable here on earth.  He came to divide those who believe and  trust Him completely from those who don't. That's a tough pill to swallow, because we want to see God only as acceptance, love and tolerance. Make no mistake about it, God loves everyone, but He doesn't love every one's actions.  We cannot go through life believing that His love alone is enough.  There will come a time when everyone will also need His salvation. He offers that freely, but only to those who accept His laws and principles and decide that for Christ I live and for Christ I die.

I heard recently, Chris Fabry from the Moody Broadcasting Network, say it best, "We do not get to weigh in on whether morality is right or not. Morality is not determined by a popularity opinion poll.  If you are a Christ follower, God's word is right and anything that comes against is wrong."

With all of that being said, I challenge all of my Christian brothers and sisters to step back from their opinions about this upcoming election and prevent yourself from voting based on color or popular opinion.  The real passion for many, whether spoken or unspoken has been, "I am voting for him because he is Black or against him because he is Black".  Or I've heard comments that indicate that many others are voting with the same passion because of just the opposite. I am ashamed to say I myself have been guilty of voting the race card.  If the shoe fits, wear it, if it doesn't then look for another size.  But, if it is you, then  I caution you to look more at what God's agenda is.  What does His word say about abortion, gay marriage, education, poverty, taxes, terrorism, violence, immigration, unemployment, health care and economics?........ When I pause to do a real study of those issues and His word, honestly, no party and or candidate matches up.

So I can't get excited about what this candidate says or what that candidate does, because none of them are representing me completely. I am a Christian before I am Black, before I am a Woman, before I am a Citizen, before I am a Wife and Mother and even before I am Physical Therapist.   I am reading a very good book by Dr. Tony Evans, entitled, "How Should Christians Vote." One of the statements that he makes is that we as Christians, because we often don't have proper representation in elections, have to make the choice of the lessor of two evils. While I believe that statement is viable, I also have to question within myself if I am really interested in lessor evil anything?  Make no mistake, this was not a blog generated to dissuade you from voting.  I know that many people suffered and died for voting rights, but what I am saying is, your passion, if you are a Christian, must be about making a conscious choice for the political agenda that best fits into God's agenda.

To put it more plainly, if President Obama gets re-elected, every community in this nation is not going
to turn into a ghetto filled with slumlords and gangs and if Governor Romney gets elected we are not going to go back into slavery.  As Christians, we have survived every political agenda and every political party change.  My security in this country is not based on what the government does or doesn't do for me.  It is solely based on what my King, who never has to get re-elected is doing and what He will do! I stand firmly next to my brother who just recently posted, "if only people were as passionate about Jesus as there are about their political candidate....."

In Him,
Rhonda

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
(Acts 20:24 NLT)

Running as the Helpmate!

Hey, I know it's been forever, but emotionally I have been in what I feel like is a train on a track with no brakes! Unfortunately, life brings ups and downs to all of us. So no matter how strong or weak you are, no man is exempt from trials. It's what you do with them that counts!

Anyway, I had the awesome opportunity to run with my man! If I neglected to share with you, Marc is running in the Chicago Marathon . I am so very proud of him. It's something that he never thought he would do! So, because of his intense training schedule and the lack of having an A.M. babysitter, I haven't been able to accompany him on many of his runs. This week, however was very different.....

For two days, we got to run in the trails together, just the two of us and our garmins! Now, of course we have run together in the past, but it is something about those trails and God's ability to speak loudly in them to me that makes the whole difference. We ran the 5 mile loop and Country Lane and the 8 mile loop the next day at Swallow Cliff. God is so awesome in that during both of those runs, He reminded me of two very important things.....my commitment and my confession to Him regarding my husband.

As the helpmate my family I was given only two roles according to God's word....  1.Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:24 MSG) and 2. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:33 ESV)

I have, too many times in my marriage, taken on more jobs than I was supposed to. I decided, without God of course, that I was the better leader, the better provider, the better, you fill in the blank! During those times of walking away from my two jobs of helping and respecting, I ultimately found myself emotionally distraught and spiritually flat. That's usually what happens when you walk outside of the plan God has for you. You can stay outside of the perimeter of His protection for only so long without getting hurt.

Anyway, I know you are like, "What does all of that have to do with running with Marc?".....Well, I can say these last two runs were probably some of the best runs of my life because I relinquished any authority that I thought I had over to him. He asked what pace we were going to run. I willingly said, " this is your run, I am happy to be with you. When you say run, we run, when you want to walk we walk, when you speed up, I'll speed up and when you slow down, I'll slow down." I made sure I stayed on his right side just a 1/4 of a step behind his step so that when he adjusted, I could adjust. I pretended that I was attached to his hip and that his run cycle was propelling my run cycle........Wow!  (I said that loudly to myself so, I placed an exclamation point behind it when I wrote it :)


Ladies, I didn't worry about what was ahead of me because I knew Marc had it. Yes, it was hard at times to stay in my place, there were times when the terrain was uneven, so I had to readjust my footing, but as long as I remembered I didn't have to lead and only follow, things got back on course pretty quickly.

I can't tell you how much of a revelation this was to me as a wife. God designed marriage as a source of protection for us, ladies. Now if you married the wrong leader, I understand why you are out of order!  However my next question has to be,is he the wrong leader because of you? It could be, like me for so long you have been neglecting your two jobs as a wife of helping and respecting and instead doing his jobs, that he doesn't know how to be the right leader!

God is in the business of renewal and restoration. As long as you are committed now, to running as the helpmate, He is willing and able to help your running team, run smoothly!

We are assured  and  know that [God being

                a partner in their labor] all things work together  and  are

                [fitting into a plan] for good to  and  for those who love God

                and are called according to [His] design  and  purpose. (Romans 8:28 AMP)

Until the Springbok runs with her man again!

The BC and a Shamrock Dream Deferred!

SOOOOOOOOooooooo, after 8 weeks of hard training....like I was getting it in y'all,  I didn't get to run the Shamrock Shuffle due to a technicality.  There was a mix up with my registration, and there you go..... I did have a bit of a pity party and I must say, I was also down right mad and disappointed.  However, after I came back to myself, I realized that in all things in my life, God works together, with those things to make them good.  My training was not for not.  Other races I shall run.  I am registered in full for the Soldier Field 10 mile during Memorial Day weekend and I will start training next week.  I am veering away from Hal Higdon's training this time.  I still think he is a running god. I just want to do something different.  I found a 10 week plan through Runner's World.com. I am already prepared to break my PR (personal record) from last year, so get ready for the updates about training.

I think my Shamrock blues tried to over shadow the fact that I finally did the BC!  Yes, y'all I cut all the relaxed hair off!  I AM FREE!  I can tell you that cutting off at least 6 inches of relaxed hair myself (my hubby helped too,) was completely freeing. DID I SAY I WAS FREE? My initial thoughts were, "Oh my Father, why did I do that,? I look like a poodle!...." Then I laughed and shook my head. For the first time in 29 years, I realized that I could be satisfied with the curls God gave me.(I had been getting a relaxer to straighten my hair, since I was 14!)  Like who told me that my hair was nappy? And if so, that nappy was a bad thing?  Why did I let society tell me that I was not good enough because my hair was not straight enough?  I know many of you might not quite get this whole thing about black women and their coifs, I don't know how to describe it other than, I was bound to the fact that if my hair was not straight, then I was not straight.  I didn't realize that was it, but that really was it. For me, it was not until I embraced the liberation that came along with cutting off the relaxed hair, did I really realize that I had been bamboozled and run a muck.  I challenge you to get along side a chocolate sister and investigate without offending her, why we do what we do.  Many people criticized Chris Rock's movie, Good Hair, but I thought the movie said something to us as a people in very profound way.

Don't get me wrong, I believe women are beautiful in many shapes, forms and hair types.  If a perm or relaxer is for you, go for it!  I am grateful that there are so many products out there that can help us do what we do.  But, this whole process helped me focus on why I was doing what I was doing and who I was trying to please.  At the end of the day, if we are not happy with ourselves on the inside, there is nothing we can do to enhance our beauty on the outside!  As the days go by, I am embracing my curls and I am learning how to do this natural hair thing. I got a great book from the library called Going Natural, How to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair  by Mireille Liong-A-Kong.  It is a great guide on how to get where you are going with natural hair.

Lastly, I was able to attend the 22nd Anniversary Christian Life Center, my church home, this weekend instead of running the Shamrock.  We had an awesome line up of anointed speakers, but I will just end with one nugget I grabbed from Pastor Gordan Banks.  His message was entitled, "The Closer."  The take home message for me was...Regret will always paint a picture of what never was or what will never be, so stop basing who you are on your regrets or your inadequacies.  Your failures cannot stop God's destiny for your life!  Wow....

Until the Springbok chops again.......

The Little Afro Springbok

A Prescribed Burning and the Ipod Void



OK, so I was siked about going to the trails yesterday to get a quick run in.  I dressed in the car on the way, just to make sure I had a few more minutes on the trail, since I had a 7:00pm appointment that I had to make.  I don't think anybody noticed....:)  Anyway, in these two years of running I have become a Garmin (my sport swatch) and an Ipod addict....Like, I don't feel like I will have a good run if I can't check my heart rate, pace and listen to some tunes.....So, I found out quickly that I was going to run with neither or not run.  I decided that I might be enough company for myself and headed out on the 4 mile path at Country Lane in Palos. 
Fortunately enough my quiet run and personal time with listening to my heavy breathing and my thoughts without distraction, did not disappoint.  As I approached the 1 mile marker, I noticed the smell of burning trees.  Sure enough in a few feet, several dead trees where being burned.  I also noticed several signs that indicated that this was a "Prescribed Burning." I figured quickly that this would be my running lesson for the day and started focusing in on why I might need  a prescribed burning in my life. 

Prescribed burns are used most frequently to maintain and restore native grasslands. Prescribed burning can recycle nutrients tied up in old plant growth, control many woody plants and herbaceous weeds, improve poor quality forage, increase plant growth, reduce the risk of large wildfires, and improve certain wildlife habitat. To achieve the above benefits, fire must be used under very specific conditions, using very specific techniques. Sargent, M.S and Carter, K.S., ed. 1999. Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide.  Michigan United Conservation Clubs, East Lansing, MI. 297pp.
 How often do we miss the forest because the trees of life have become too big?  I would have missed an opportunity to recognize that even good things need to be let go of in order for the best things in life to grow.  My ipod would not have taught me that.  What needs to be recycled in you? What needs to be restored?  Don't you want your "life plants" to grow?  Prescribed burnings only work, as written above if they are done under specific conditions and using specific techniques.  It makes a difference whom you are accountable to in life.  They just might burn you in the wrong place!  Nuff said! (Post your comments below as to what needs a prescribed burn in your life, whether its emotional, physical, spiritual or relational.)

I am hours away from my "BIG CHOP!" I am nervous, but anxious to be liberated.  I can't wait to post pics or video.  I am headed out to do sprint intervals today.  Somewhere in my hurry up, wait, hurry up wait of a schedule, I will find the time!  You make time for what you really want to do!  Shamrock in 10 DAYS!

"Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first and we lose both first and second things"

CS Lewis

Until the Springbok writes again....

Nirvana....4a, Sprint Intervals and Construction Hats

Helloooooo!

I have had such a busy few weeks, but I did not want to allow another one to go by without checking in. My Shamrock race training is going fairly well. I have unfortunately missed a few crucial training days, due to work, family or teaching commitments, but none the less, I feel pretty confident about the upcoming run. I have learned to listen to when my body says, its time to rest and when it's time to speed up. I refused to accept unnecessary injuries, because I won't to listen to her! Listen to the pain, folks! It means something..... Nirvana#1 (BTW...The Chicago Shamrock closes this weekend!)

 

I recently came to the conclusion that the "Big Chop" is in my near future. Why stay in bondage to this transitioning hair? (Clarification: Big Chop-to cut off all of the existing relaxed or permed hair and be satisfied with the natural stuff that is left. Transitioning- the period of time that a person moves from permed or relaxed hair to all natural hair.) FREEDOM!.......Nirvana#2

So, now I have also discovered or at least I think, I have 4A natural hair. I am a newbie to all of this so I didn't realize there was a natural hair scale. Wow! Times have truly changed. Nappy used to be negative and ugly to many. I think the days of hearing "good hair" are almost over or a least behind us. Amen somebody!

  My sprint intervals are pretty exciting for me these days! I am averaging approximately 7:30 min per mile splits for my 0.25 mile, of which I have to complete 6 to 10 during speed sessions. I'll take em! So Tina A. Swain, I might be closer to your challenge than I thought!.....Black Girls Run!....and can run fast!....Nirvana#3

And lastly, I had one more inspiring moment, listening just today to a podcast about a wonderful book by Dr. West Stafford of Compassion International called, Just One Minute......Basically, you never want to miss even a minute of an opportunity to impact the life of a child. When you are with them, put on your construction hats because they are always an opportunity at work!...Nirvana#4

........Until the  4A Springbok writes again!

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."

Graham Greene

"Shamrock, here I come!"

OK, so today is the official start of my 8 week training schedule for Bank of America's Shamrock Shuffle If you want to run this one, you better sign up quick, it sells out fast. http://www.shamrockshuffle.com/cms400min/ I am doing Hal Higdon's 8 week advanced program. You ought to check the guy out. He has been running for years and posts appropriate training schedules for any type of runner. http://www.halhigdon.com/
Anyway, I had to switch the program today and I ran a 24 min tempo run at the park while my little one was in gymnastics. I would have gone longer, but I couldn't see in front of me and could my husband yelling at me in my head. I felt pretty good for my first official run. We will see how the rest of the week pans out.....My official chip times for the Shamrock in 2010 and 2011 were 50:24 and 44:42. What do you think I should shoot for this year?

Let's see, I am reading a good book called Rebirth and Rejoice written by a good friend of mine, Tina Swain Rebirth and-Rejoice. One of the key points I took away from it today was, how often I walk or run around without my full armor of protection on. In any arena if there is provided protective gear available for you to use and you don't use it, what does that make you?.....You fill in the blank! Currently my hair is standing straight up in the air! I guess the infamous bun will have to do for my birthday. Wow, a year older and I still don't have a good hair plan! Happy Birthday to me!

Your talk talks and your walk talks, the key is to let your walk talk louder than your talk!

-Pastor James Ford

Running In The Elements

Ok,
So I ran today in the snow. While it was a short run and a slow one, I can honestly say that it was one of the best runs I've had. The snow was falling, I had to run primarily in the street, through slush and defend my feet from the elements. Thank God for gortex! 3m 34:38 11:33 pace avg bpm 162. I know, nothing but....".SLOW! However, the reason I am reporting that this was a good run is because, I did it for me! I was able to have a full conversation with my spirit and my God! No, I am not crazy! I've heard other runners speak of it as a spiritual experience, but I don't think I've experienced many of them myself. Oh yeah, my hair is in a tight secure bun at the nape of my neck and as a result,I have a headache!! I miss my running buddies......

The 5 senses were given to us as gifts to help us enjoy this world and help us to be alerted of harm. They were never intended to govern the spirit man -C. Dollar

OK soooooo.......I feel like I need to apologize!

Hello,
I hate starting something and not finishing it!  The break is over from blogging.  I ran my last race in Orland Hills before Thanksgiving 2011.  25:51 5K, 8:19 pace....I'll take it!
Needless to say, since then I have been partying like a rock star....indulging in the fat of the land.  I enjoyed my holidays, but now it is back to work.  In fact, this year's motto is.....DO WORK! Put it in so you can get it out

2012 RUNNING GOALS:

• Sub 2 half....8:24 pace
• 8:30 pace for Solider Field Ten
• Do a half some place other than Illinois
• Sub 25 min 5K
• Run the Shamrock really fast! :)

I ran with my buddies on Saturday (1/7/12) and I felt like the old fat lady, slowing everybody down!  :) I'll get it together....

If you can forgive the person you were, accept the person you are and believe in the person you will become you are headed for joy, so celebrate your life

Barbara Jones