The Reason I Run

    Our lives are characterized by milestones that mark our journey in life altering events. Besides birth and death, they usually include turning 18, getting our first vehicle, graduation, marriage, having a child, etc.

     Unfortunately, we celebrate the obvious, and tend to overlook the events that changed our lives without a monumental marker. Unless, of course, we take the time to look back and reflect on the change, as well as the impact it had on ourselves and others. In reflecting on my most recent milestone, I also discovered

                                                         THE REASON I RUN.

    It all began over a year ago, sitting in my living room filled with teenage girls. We were discussing setting goals, when my friend and I both discovered we had a desire to run a marathon.
We set a date and completed our first half marathon a few months later.

  Our "practice runs" every week, turned into mini therapy sessions, where we met together to solve the problems of the world! We laughed, we cried, we prayed for so many people as we ran hundreds of miles last year. So, we set another goal to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Walt Disney World.

   Within the 26,000 runners, a smaller team assembled. Organized by Abolition International and the JOYFM radio station, Team Freedom raised it's banner to run for those who are not Free To Run (Yet)!

                                                          TEAM FREEDOM

    In keeping with my heart's cry to abolish modern day slavery, Abolition International also exists to fight Human Trafficking. Along with the 200 runners on Team Freedom, we raised over $72,000 to help expand a shelter for girls rescued from sex slavery. We knew from the beginning this was a cause greater than ourselves. But, I never knew the whole, life altering impact it would have.

                                                                              

                                                       PRINCESS FOR A DAY

    I have to admit I have a Fairy Tale mentality (and my castle-looking house doesn't hurt), and running in a marathon where I get to dress like a Princess was a win-win event in my book!
So, my best friend, my daughter-in-law, my niece and I all picked a Disney Princess to portray as we ran 13.1 miles. I chose Belle! Beauty and the Beast has been one of my favorite Fairy Tales for as long as I can remember. Maybe, the fact that she loses her father, or that she can see the best in the "unlovely" resonated with my soul.

                                                              BEAUTIFUL

     Belle means "Beautiful". A word that, like many women, I have had a hard time using as a description to identify myself.  Beautiful! The defining factor that set Esther apart from all the other young women and landed a crown upon her head! I love the story of Esther, as controversial as it is. I've read every book and bible study on her that I could. That is why, a few months ago, I looked up the Jewish calender and saw that the Feast of Purim was to be celebrated the same weekend that we would be running in the Disney Princess Half Marathon!

    As I sat in a room with the other members of Team Freedom listening to stories of girls that were rescued from Human Trafficking, we cried, we cheered, we prayed to rescue those who were still held in captivity. I knew this was a task that called for collaboration and unity. As Queen Esther called for fasting and prayer, this battle for freedom from captivity calls for that as well! And as I prepared myself to run, I placed a crown upon my head, reflecting on the words of Mordecai:

"Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

 As I ran for those who are not yet free to run, I felt beautiful, because I knew that fighting for their freedom was what I was created to do! My best friend, who not only prays and runs the journey with me gave me a symbolic card which ended with these words,

 "Falling in love - with who you were meant to be.
    I was Born to do this."
 
     And that is the reason I run!

Overwhelmed

           I stood at the back of the room as my friend Marlene recounted to the standing-room-only crowd, one of the many life altering experiences we once shared at a Human Trafficking conference.

       The bile rose to the top of my throat as vivid memories of the depravity of man filled my mind. She comforted the audience (and myself) by promising not to expound on the stories that truly kept us from sleeping and eating for days after the conference. Her point was to awaken a passion in a world that can sometimes be overwhelmed by a need, or desensitized by a self-gratifying, media-driven society.

      She confessed, that at that moment, she couldn't take anymore. Overwhelming odds and numerous examples of "movie-caliber" true stories washed over us like tsunami sized waves.
How could we possibly make a difference?
  
     Then, to my surprise, she credited me for snapping her out of  her compassion induced stupor. I recounted one of my favorite anecdotes, "The Starfish Story," in which a young girl on a beach littered with starfish from the previous nights storm, gently tosses them back into the water. An elderly man, after watching a while, challenges her with the multitude of starfish on the beach, how could her efforts possibly make a difference?

            The girl, bending to pick up another starfish, answers as she tosses it into the ocean,

                                               IT MATTERS TO THAT ONE

    "It matters to that one!" That statement drives the passion within us to keep fighting the fight. Her reminder echoed through my soul as I contemplated so many stories from my recent trip to Guatemala. So many needs, so much pain and hurt and injustice...how can we possibly make a difference? The same thought resounded over and over from many of my new friends on the trip.
From the "treasures" in the city dump, to the orphans and malnourished babies, from the mischievous teens with cerebral palsy to the inspiring viejitos, there must be more that we can do?

                                                Be A Voice For The Voiceless

     I am an advocate because girls, many between the ages of 12-14, can't speak for themselves because they are being held captive in the sex trade.

     I sponsor a child from a third world country that didn't have the opportunities my son had growing up.

     I leave my comfort zone from time to time so that I don't become immune to a hurting world.

    I  plan to share some stories my friends are writing about - great organizations out there that give you and me a chance to be the change.

    I'd love to hear from you too, what "Starfish" are you making a difference for?

I HOPE YOU DANCE!

   A country crossover song by LeeAnn Womack became a music sensation when my son was in High School. The accompanying music video portrayed a mother imparting learned wisdom to her young children. With many life experiences already under my belt, and the knowledge of shattered dreams and broken promises, I encouraged my son with these words in his Senior Yearbook:

                     "There is a time for everything,
                       and a season for every activity under the heavens;

                       a time to weep and a time to laugh,
                       a time to mourn and a time to dance."
                                                              (Eccl. 3:1,4)

                                 I Hope You Dance!

  Little did I know that in just a couple of years we would be struggling through one of those seasons as my husband battled cancer. What should have been a fun-filled season in my son's life was interrupted as he left college to come and be with us. The impact of facing mortality radically changed many of his life goals. He made a decision soon after that the young woman who stood beside him sharing this painful time was the woman he wanted beside him to share the rest of his life!

  Less than a year after my husband passed away, my son entered a new season of his life and married the woman he knew would be there no matter what. At the reception he took my hands and reminded me of the words I wrote in his yearbook. As he brushed away my tears, the song for our mother-son dance began; LeeAnn Womack singing "I Hope You Dance"

  We have both faced more trials and seasons of heartache as well as laughter, as everyone will throughout their lives, but this past week I came face to face with the underlying message that I tried to impart. I was visiting a Senior Citizen's home with a group in Guatemala. As we struggled through the language barrier trying to carry on some semblance of conversation I hit a cord of commonality with a new found friend in his 80's. Jorge and I both enjoyed dancing! This turned into a frantic plea to find music. No radios were to be found. Finally, thank God for technology, someone whipped out their phone and the fiesta began.
                                                                                                             
                                               Jorge and I danced & danced!

  We tried to encourage others to join us. My exuberant partner wanted everyone to share in this momentary joy that interrupted their bleak afternoon. I don't know if I have ever seen such willingness to shake off life's struggles and replace it with laughter as I did in Jorge that afternoon. He reminded me that we have a choice, we all face sickness, loneliness, heartache, trials of every kind, yes, sometimes even death, but through it all we can still choose to pick ourselves back up, and meet the next season in our lives with the exuberance and fight to find music ....

  Because it really doesn't really matter if you are a senior in High School or a Senior Citizen

                                            There is a time for everything,
                                             and a season for every activity under the heavens;

                                            a time to weep and a time to laugh,
                                            a time to mourn and a time to dance."
                                                                                    (Eccl. 3:1,4)

                                               And I Hope You Dance!

Love,

Pazazdance