Last training run done💙🙌🏃🏻♀️ Now for Sunday🙏
As I started on the trail this morning, after I procrastinated for almost an hour, I noticed the fog on the trail ahead of me (second pic). This view made me think of the unknowns we meet in life.
As I ran into the fog I didn’t focus on what I couldn’t see ahead but on what I could see in front of me.
This was a reminder to me that God doesn’t wanting us looking too far ahead, but to be where our feet are and take one step at a time, including into the unknowns. Yes, we need to make our plans, yet may we allow God to direct our steps.*
As I came back from the run I turned around to see the trail from where I started and the fog had lifted (third pic). I could see more clearly the path now.
And so it is with life.
We often step into the foggy unknowns hesitantly as we are looking too far ahead. Yet if we take one step of faith at a time, we can move to and through the unknown. And when we look back, we often find that the fog is lifted, and we are able to see from the other side with greater clarity and perspective the path and what it took for us to get us through it.
I share this with you today in case you are facing a foggy unknown ahead, like I am with Sunday on the horizon. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we take one step of faith forward at a time, even when we don’t see the “finish line.” May God’s Word be a light to our path and the meditation of our minds to help us through. And when we get to the other side, may we take a moment to look back and see what we’ve learned and how we’ve grown in the process. May we give thanks to God for helping us through and in time use what we’ve learned so that we can come beside others who walk parallel paths.
With love and hope,
Shawn
“your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” - Psalm 119:105
Second to last training run done
Second to last training run done💙🙌🎗️
Recently I asked for advice about the marathon from Gabe’s husband, Justin, who is an ultra runner. For one of his tips he quoted Gabe saying, “it’s okay to struggle but it’s not okay to give up.”
This advice brought tears to my eyes as it’s the heart of who Gabe was. She was a warrior with her running, and through her cancer journey. Her life blessed so many, and continues to. Her mission lives on through @bravelikegabe and her powerful words are applicable not just for running, but for life.
I’m sharing this with you today in case any of you needed to hear this message too.
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we acknowledge that the struggle on our hearts is real yet may we never give up. May we hold on to hope that will anchor our souls in those hard moments and even if we have to go slow, may we continue, one step forward at a time. And let’s be sure to lean into the circles of love around us for encouragement and support when we need it, like I will need to do on Sunday, and as I have had to do at others times in my life too.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The Other Side of the Struggle
My friend Laurie sent me this picture of these two moments; seven years ago when she was by my side during chemo and last week when we ran 20 miles together.
I teared up seeing these pictures side by side, thankful for my friend and to God for renewing my life and using my struggle for a greater purpose.
Seeing these pictures reminded me that when we can’t see the other side of the unknown or struggle, God does. And He will use all things for good…even though we may not get how He could.
I share this with you today because I know others are facing a struggle right now or an unknown. If that’s you, invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we invite God into the struggle. Even though we may not see the other side as He does, may we trust that He will help us through and He will make good of all things, in time.
With love and hope,
Shawn
PS Thank you to all who have already donated to my @bravelikegabe fundraising page. If you haven’t yet and would like to, please visit link in my bio💙🙏🎗️
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28
Taking Care of Our Whole Being Matters
Here is the other side of training for this couch to marathon- which often includes belly rubs for Georgia🐾
This couch to marathon journey has reminded me that taking care of our whole being matters. It’s not just the run, but the rest, and the stretching, strengthening and mobility work. Yet it’s not all about the outside. So much of the work is within my own heart and mind. The inner refinement is real in this process and although it’s not easy, it’s clearing out cobwebs that needed clearing and giving me a renewed perspective- not just of running but of life.
I share this with you in case any of you are finding yourself hesitant to try something new that seems challenging and uncomfortable, like I was. If so, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we remember the inner work is the greatest work we can do, and sometimes to refine ourselves, from the inside out, we need to step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves, in mind or body. Yet when we do this, we just may find ourselves living out principles we are called to such as patience, perseverance, diligence and discipline, like this couch to marathon journey is doing for me. And even though the process isn’t easy, the progress and growth within is worth it.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The Freedom Trail
Yesterday as I ran the 20 miles for my last long run before the marathon, I found myself gravitating to run on the double yellow lines.
Why?
It reminded me of the freedom trail in Boston.
Seven years ago while I was getting treatments in Boston my family came to visit and I caught this pic of my kids on the freedom trail. I walked on these line of bricks as often as I could in Boston and prayed for freedom. Freedom from cancer so that I could be here to watch my kids grow up and to grow old with Stephen. And I am so thankful for being here🙏
As I ran over the yellow lines yesterday, I gave thanks for being free of cancer and I also gave thanks for what this running journey has done for me, refining me from the inside out.
When I signed up to be a part of the Brave Like Gabe team to run the NYC marathon I had really been struggling internally. One thing I was struggling with was that I was constantly in the fight or flight response. For example, if I had a pain in my body, I would be triggered to think the cancer was back, and my body would go into fight response.
With running, I have experienced various pains. Yet when I have pain, like I did on the run yesterday in my calf, I no longer think of cancer first🙌 I have been freed of having that be my first thought which is huge for me!
I share this with you today in case you too have triggers and/or need to be freed from something like I did. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we take time to reflect on and give thanks for things we have been freed from. And if we are currently struggling with something, may we pray to be released from it. And like these lines on the road, may we choose follow Jesus to help free us, in our minds, body and souls.
With love and hope,
Shawn
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13
Thankful for Iron Sharpens Iron, Friends Who Love at All Times Friends
One of my closest friends knows me better than I know myself. She signed up to do the marathon in Hartford tomorrow and encouraged me to do my 20 mile run beside her and have another friend finish the marathon relay and complete the last 6.2 miles.
Everything about this process overwhelmed me and I delayed signing up for weeks.
Yet that is precisely why my friend said doing this would benefit me - I could the take tomorrow as a trial run of being in a race setting before NYC.
I share this with you as a reminder that the people beside us who know us well, may say something like “sign up for a marathon relay” to which our initial reaction is “nope.”
Yet when the people we love and who love us say something, it’s important we take time to listen, and ask ourselves, “Are they speaking truth to us? Does what they say have our best interest at heart?” If so, maybe we need to pause before reacting and consider their suggestion, as I did.
If you can be quick to speak or react from an emotional state like I can at times, invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we know our “iron sharpens iron, friends who love at all times” friends. And when they speak to us, even things we don’t want to hear, may we be willing to be quick to listen and slow to speak. For our initial reaction may not be the response aligned with what is best for us in the long run, like this experience I pray is for me tomorrow.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Meet Paula and How Cancer Has Impacted Her Life
This is my best friend since Kindergarten, Paula. She is not one who wants attention yet her story is powerful, and another reason why I am running.
There is no one I know whose life has been more impacted by cancer than Paula.
When we were in first grade, her Mom, Debbie, was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. She was a warrior yet sadly the cancer came back when we were in college and her Mom passed away in 2000.
Her Mom was one of the most generous souls you’d ever meet, volunteering her time to our community like no other. Her presence was huge loss to Paula, their family and our community.
A couple years later, Paula’s Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thankfully he is doing well yet she has lost others in her family, and a sister-in-law to cancer over the years.
When my mom was diagnosed with the same breast cancer as her Mom, Paula was calling to help get an appointment for my mom asap. And her help, I believe, is a main reason my mom is still with us today.
When I was diagnosed she was right there asking how she could help and coming to treatments with me.
A few years ago, her brother was diagnosed with a rare cancer. His cancer doesn’t have a defined treatment and they are doing what they can to help him heal. He is a warrior, as is Paula.
She is one who loves her people deeply, shows up and would fight the battle for you if she could.
I run for Paula, and all the other caretakers fighting the battle beside their loved ones, and in honor of her brother’s rare cancer fight.
I share this with you today as a reminder that even though someone hasn’t had cancer, it doesn’t mean their life has not been impacted by it.
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we recognize how cancer impacts so many, including the children, the siblings, the caretakers, etc. May we grow eyes to see and ears to hear their stories, and honor how cancer impacts them too. May we do what we can to love and support them, as they support others.
With love, care and hope,
Shawn
May Peace, not Fear, Rule Our Hearts and Minds
Although I’m smiling here I will admit that I have mixed emotions about the upcoming marathon. I want to be excited but admittedly am nervous.
One of the many lessons I’ve learned along the way is that the scarier path may be the right path for me, and you, but that doesn’t make it easy or smooth.
From the moment I found out I was on team @bravelikegabe for the NYC marathon, I had a wave a panic run through my body. If anyone in my family mentioned the marathon those first couple of weeks I would get the same wave of anxiety and asked them not to talk about it.
It would have been so easy for me to make up a reason to not do say yes. Yet when I looked at the heart of why I wouldn’t do it it’s because I fear not being successful at this. And once I swallowed that truth, I knew I had to step into it because I refuse to let fear make my decisions for me.
Although this isn’t an easy process, I will say by stepping out of my comfort zone, and by doing what scares me, I’ve grown in ways I never would have within had I stayed in my comfort zone.
I share this with you today in case any of you also have a path before you that is scary, unknown, and a less comfortable. If so, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
No matter how we present ourselves to others on the outside, may we be honest with ourselves where we really are in our hearts and minds. May we acknowledge the fear yet instead of allowing it to rule us, may we turn to God’s word and pray “that the peace of Christ rule our hearts and minds.” And if we choose to take the scarier, less comfortable path, may we remember God has promised to be with us. It may not be easy, yet may we allow it to refine us, from the inside out, and allow it to help us grow closer to God, and into who He made us to be.
With love and hope,
Shawn
A Beautiful View
There are many beautiful views in the world, but this view is one of my favorites.
It was a blessing to have the whole family back together for the weekend💝
I hope you had some quality time with your favorite people too.
With love,
Shawn
There is Value in Rest
Today I completed 17.2 miles in honor of many in our ACC family, and beyond! Small deposits over time are adding up💙
After running and stretching, I went about the day and this afternoon I was so tired. It wasn’t until I saw my Brave Like Gabe teammate Kaila’s post about running and resting, with her dog Al, that I considered resting.
When I saw that second picture (above) I gave myself permission to rest. I cuddled up on the couch later today and dozed off.
Rest is a funny thing. I think I do it yet I also saw today how I don’t always give myself permission to rest when I genuinely need it.
And it’s not just about physical rest. Yes, physical rest is good yet it’s so important we rest our minds, bodies and our souls.
I share this today as Kaila’s post was a blessing to me and I wanted to pass it along to you in case you need the reminder to rest too.
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we give ourselves permission to rest this weekend - our minds, our bodies, our souls. For when we give ourselves the gift of rest, it is will help us renew and restore what is needed, as my time of rest did for me today.
With love and hope,
Shawn