Day By Day

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Coco

This week I finally took the plunge and started a personal blog.  I also happened to start reading the daily devotionals in Forward Day By Day again, after a loooong hiatus.  So, what am I to make of yesterday’s reading that talks about the importance of being quiet, alone, and listening for God’s voice? And today’s reading that talks about avoiding the temptation of telling others how to live their own lives?

After spending time on Facebook, Twitter and blogs, I do get tired of thinking of what to say, writing it out, reading responses, etc.  It can be an endless cycle that eats up an incredible amount of time and saps my energy.  Sometimes I feel like my head is filled with “blah, blah, blah.” So yes, being “quiet” probably would be good for me – if I can stay awake long enough to reap the benefits.

As for telling others how to live their lives, I think I’ve moved past that for the most part.  I often think of advice to give others, or even write it out, but then realize that my solutions may not work for them – if they really even work for me.

So, I guess I will take these readings as gentle precautaions.  My blog can be a good thing, but I need to set limits on may “screen time.”  And I won’t try to tell others how to live their lives, although I will share what is working (and not working) for me.

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Judge Not . . .

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Coco

Private Practice never was one of my favorite shows, but it got my attention as a spin-off of Gray’s Anatomy and I still watch it regularly, albeit only on DVR once I’ve caught up on my other shows. Its gotten very soap opera-y, focusing mostly on the relationships between the characters (seriously, is there anyone who hasn’t slept with everyone else yet?), but every once in a while it has an interesting story line on deeper issues.

Who Made You Judge

This season, we learned that Dr. Bennett has a tendency to pass judgment with his surgical knife. Early in his career, he was about to operate on a man who made a death-bed confession about being a child molester. During the surgery, the patient started “crashing” and Dr. Bennett did not do everything he could to save him. It was his first “solo surgery” and he passed off his conduct as “freezing” under the pressure. Continue reading →

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Don’t Drag My Lord Into Your Politics

Posted on August 29, 2010 by Coco

Yesterday, as part of my usual iPhone surfing, I checked the news on the NYTimes App.  There was an article about Glenn Beck’s rally at the Lincoln Memorial. Now, I usually don’t get upset by the ultra-conservatives, and I know that their views of “Christianity” are much different from mine, but this time a quote really got my blood boiling:

Becky Benson, 56, traveled from Orlando, Florida, because, she said, “we believe in Jesus Christ,” and Jesus, she said, would not have agreed with the economic stimulus package, bank bailouts and welfare. “You cannot sit and expect someone to hand out to you,” she said. “You don’t spend your way out of debt.”

How could anyone say that Jesus would not support helping the less fortunate?

I was still upset about it this morning, and even spoke with my priest about it after church today: “What can someone like me do to let others know that these people don’t speak for all Christians?”

I decided to write a letter to the editor.  We will see if they publish it – the odds are miniscule. If they don’t, I will post it here.  I used the allotted 150 words to point out specific Bible versus where Jesus promotes the idea of giving “handouts” to the poor:

“If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor.” Matthew 19:21; Mark 17:21;Luke 18:22.

“Sell your possessions, and give alms.”  Luke 12:31

Then there’s

Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s

where Jesus pretty much says “Politics? Leave me out of it!”

I don’t like it when anyone claims to be doing “what God wants,” but if there is any litmus test for God’s approval, it would have to be LOVE, and I don’t feel a whole lot of love from people who don’t think that we should help those who are less fortunate. I’m not saying that I agree with the details any of the recent government programs, but Jesus made it pretty clear that we should feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome strangers and visit prisoners. (Matthew 25: 31-46).

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Countdown to the Army Ten Miler (ATM)

Posted on August 29, 2010 by Coco

Yesterday I started my training program for the ATM, which is on October 24, 2010. Well, I did my long run, which I plan to do some variation of every weekend (usually Saturdays) until the race.  The rest of my “training program” is still in the planning process.

First, about my run.  I generally planned on running 8 miles on the bike path, but I toyed with the idea of doing 9.  For me, toying with an idea and doing it are just about the same thing. To add the mile to my planned 8 mile out-and-back route, I decided to run 0.5 mi north of my usual starting point, and then turn around and run 4.5 miles and then turn around and run 4 miles back. That way, the mile I was adding “mentally” was at the start of my run – I didn’t have to keep going after my usual “finish line.”

I also bargained with myself that I could do the 9 miles (instead of 8 miles) if I promised to go slowly.  I’m not very good at that, although I’ve gotten better after being sidelined with more injuries than I care to remember, most from over-training. I aimed for a 10:30 pace, but ended up doing most miles @ 10:08. My average was about 10:15, including the first mile that I did manage to hit at 10:30.

Everything felt great until the last two miles.  First I felt a bit of twinginess in my right foot (I have a history of PF). Then I felt *something* in my left leg, below my knee, on the outside. Neither pain lingered for too long and both were gone completely after I stopped. Still, today I did some time with the foam roller (OW!) and lacrosse ball just in case.

My “training program” will include running T/Th/Sat. While most race training programs include at least 4 running days, a three day program worked well for me for the GW Parkway Classic.  I originally was going to do WTs M/W/F (like my current general fitness program) but I am toying with the idea of doing WTs M/W and yoga or pilates on Fridays to give my legs more of a break before my long run.  In this case “toying with the idea” may not mean doing it because, Type A that I am, yoga and pilates just do not get me out of bed the way the promise of a hard run or solid WT workout do.

I got new shoes yesterday afternoon. A “fresh” pair of the same model I’ve been using relatively injury-free for a while now: Mizuno Gel Inspire 6. I took them on a short test run on the treadmill this morning, and they felt good.

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