Today I did something that I hadn't done in a few years. I ran a road race.
I first got into distance running more than 10 years ago. It was during a time of personal turmoil, and I needed running as an outlet to channel my pain and release my stress. I remembered running my first marathon, the 1995 Toronto Marathon, and how it felt to finally cross the finish line.
I had hoped to finish at around 4 hours, it ended up taking me almost 5. I have run other marathons since then, but that day I learned the most important about life and running: In a long distance run, you are not competing against other runners. The challenge is the distance, and it means different things to different runners: For some, they run as a symbolic battle against an illness. Others chose to run in the midst of difficult personal circumstances to declare they are not going to quit. For all, the best part of the run is at the finish line, where you look back at the distance you conquered and whatever that represented to you and you say, "F**K YOU!!"
Today's race was only a 10K. The first race I have run in several years. But as soon as I left the house, all the familiar feelings and memories returned: the chill of the early morning air, the energy of the crowd at the start area, trying to stay warm after I checked in my warm up suit, the sound of the horn to begin the race...
After I finished and they put the medal around my neck, I felt almost lost in the sea of people (12,000 runners ran the race today!). I looked around and did not find anyone I know. I didn't even know what my time was. But it didn't matter. I looked down at the medal, and said to no one in particular, "I am back running. The road's got nothing on me..."
16 comments:
alfred, i'm proud of you.
Alfred, can't wait to run with you.
What's the vulgar language business?
Are you going to start training for a marathon? Chicago was fun, well, as fun as being on your feet for 42 k can be. Let's plan to do another one together again!
Bella
Hey Bella
yeah...i thought of it, but i think i need to step up my distance more slowly now, what with age and everything :-) i might consider doing a half marathon in the fall...we'll see
Why do you keep blaming the church betrayed you. What about hundreds, if not thousands, of people, young and old alike, that heard you preached? And now you tell them what? I was kidding?! Who do they to blame? You or God? Who should then apologize? "commit your life to Jesus lah, it's good for you. Follow Jesus just I do." Now what? Tell us that we miss something. Healing for you only? Come on, how about the people who you has touched years ago. They probably need no healing. For God sake, wake up!
Dear "Anonymous": While I do not appreciate the tone nor agree with the content of your comment, it is obvious that you have plenty you would like to say to me. I am more than happy to engage in a civilized dialogue with you, if you so wish. I must point out, however, that I believe when you attack someone, you should at least have the courage to identify yourself and stand behind your words. To launch an ill-informed "verbal grenade", and then running away to hide behind the identity of "Anonymous" is simply cowardice. As it stands, I am sorry, but your comment does not merit a response beyond what I have written.
To the anonymous person who wrote such angry comment to Alfred. You do not know me and I do not know you. I find your comment mean spirited and not edifying! Behind every situation, there is always a context. From your few words, I don’t see you wanting to understand Alfred’s situation, but rather, giving him a lecture! I thought Jesus taught us to be kind and teach us to live a life that is compassionate to the pain of others. I am in tears reading your comment because I feel sorry for someone who claims to share the same faith as myself able to be so mean to a struggling brother! If you choose to continue to respond with words that do not respect others, please stop because I as a reader even find it offensive!
The "Anonymous" person is an idiot and didn't know what Alfred is trying to do. Read here and you can see that Alfred is doing.
May 11, 2009
The World Is Watching
ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download
READ: John 13:31-35
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. —John 13:35
My friends were serving in a ministry that was directed mainly to Christians when an opportunity came for them to change jobs and touch the lives of thousands of nonbelievers. They decided to make what they believed to be an exciting change.
Many people, even some who didn’t personally know them, were shocked and accused them of seeking fame and fortune in the world. But believing that Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), they decided to pursue what they considered an even greater opportunity to serve the “lost” in their community.
They said later, “Some Christians were so cruel to us, and wrote hateful e-mails. Our new non-Christian friends were kinder to us than our fellow Christians. We didn’t understand that, and were hurt deeply.” They told me that their desire was to follow God’s directive to be “salt” and “light” in the world (Matt. 5:13-14).
When someone we know is making a decision or change, it can be helpful to ask about his or her motives. But we can’t fully know another’s heart. We don’t want to “bite and devour” our fellow Christians (Gal. 5:15), but instead to love them in a way that others will know we are Jesus’ followers (John 13:35). The world is watching. — Anne Cetas
We join our hearts and hands together,
Faithful to the Lord’s command:
We hold each other to God’s standards—
All that truth and love demand. —D. De Haan
Only God sees the heart
way to go alfredo! *high five* some of my friends ran in the same 10k that morning. i can still remember waiting for you at the corner of dewhurst and donlands (in front of square boy, baby) for an hour when you ran in a marathon years ago. actually, i think that we cancelled our sunday school class that week just to wait and cheer you on. bahaha, good times. :)
Hey Sharon! High 5 to you too! Thanks! yeah, it was a lot of fun being in a race again...it's been so many years since I last ran one :-)
Alfred: don't run away from God and your responsibilty. Your marathon had an end point. Your Christian life has no ending. Don't let that "anonymous" idiot ruin your day.
Keep running 林承昌弟兄。
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement! When I run long distance races and struggle towards the later stages, one thing that has always brought me encouragement was seeing other struggling runners who refuse to give up. I have learned that life is much the same way. We all have our struggles. We all must find our own reasons to keep running. While your reasons may be different than mine, the fact that you keep putting one foot in front of the other inspires me, and keeps me doing the same.
Keep running, friends! :-)
Please wallow in your own pity as I'm sure that's the way to redemption. After your years of "fire and brimstone" preaching and alienating all those that dissented from your point of view, you now want compassion from those same people that you marginalized.
I regret having you preside over my wedding.
Dear Abandoned:
Your comment left me somewhat baffled. I am not sure what is the best way to respond, but perhaps correcting factual errors in what you wrote is a good place to start:
First, I am not sure what you were referring to as "years of fire and brimstone" preaching. I am quite certain that if you take a poll of everyone who's heard me speak through the years, you will be hard-pressed to find ANYONE who will characterize my speaking style with those words.
Secondly, I am not sure who you were referring to as people I "marginalized". Again, if you ask people who has heard me speak regularly, most will tell you that I have always tried to do the opposite: to be inclusive and accomodating. Is is possible that I have offended someone unintentionally over almost 20 years of public speaking? Certainly! I'd like to believe that the vast majority of the time, people who's heard me speak felt my effort to be inclusive and respectful. I believe my track record on where I stand on various issues demonstrates that.
Third, contrary to what you said, I have no intention of "wallowing in my pity". I am working hard to move on and make a difference in the world through the various things I am involved in. Again, if you had taken the time to find out from me, you will know that.
I feel badly that you regretted over having me participated in your wedding. But you are certainly entitled to your own feelings. I hope you are doing well in your marriage nonetheless.
I'd like to point out that I am more than happy to engage in a productive dialogue especially with those who disagree with me. Again, at the risk of belaboring the point, that has ALWAYS been my style of operating. However, it is difficult to have a dialogue with "dear Anonymous", especially if he/she decides to launch an attack and then disappears. As I said before, I find such actions cowardly.
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