One thing I have learned in life, especially through trying circumstances and facing unknowns, is that peace is never something I will access outside myself. Peace is a gift we receive within from God.
If I allow my outer circumstances to dictate my inner world, I get messy, as I shared with you in my last post. Yet when I choose to see my circumstances or the unknowns I face through a lens of faith I find I have more rest within when I trust that God can and will use all things for good in His time.
So as we meet this day, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we not allow the circumstances of this day or the unknowns we face to dictate the posture of our internal world. Instead may we ask God for His peace to rule our hearts and minds so that He sets the thermostat within us, rather than allowing our external circumstances or unknowns to determine our temperature within. From experience, this isn’t a flick of a switch but a continued practice we can come back to. And over time, we will find that we are able to access the peace of God that transcends all understanding, no matter our circumstances or the unknowns we face.
Wishing you a peaceful day🙏
With love and hope,
Shawn
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
- Philippians 4:7
26.2 miles DONE!!! + Almost $17,000 raised!!!
26.2 miles done🙌 With your help I was able to raise $16,683 and our @bravelikegabe team raised $82,225 for rare cancer research💝
Thank you for all your support whether you cheered me on and/or donated🙏
And you know I need to make a life lesson out of everything so let me share this…
Wednesday night I had a full blown panic attack and told Stephen I was going to give my bib away. I raised the money and that was enough. Fear gripped my heart and I was ready to throw this experience away.
Yet I woke up on Thursday morning knowing I couldn’t let fear win the battle for my heart. I functioned in an anxious state leading up to that starting line. Literally taking each moment, one step at a time.
I share this with you because fear and anxiety are real, yet the thoughts we experience in those states are often not rooted in truth. They are projections of what may be but it doesn’t mean they will be.
It’s not easy to get through anxiety and panic, and I don’t want to pretend I have the answers for everyone’s experience. Yet for me, being present in the moment, going step by step, and inviting others in to let them know I’m not okay and their support helped me get to that starting line.
I share this with you because I know there are others who deal with anxiety and panic attacks too. They can be crippling and keep us from experiencing truth rooted thoughts and wonderful experiences. If you get what I mean, I’ll invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we be prayerful to let peace and truth rule our hearts and minds so that the fear doesn’t win. May we invite others in from loved ones to doctors, if we need it, to help us through. May we be present where we are and when our thoughts fast forward to what ifs, or the gloom of the unknown, may we reel our thoughts back in. And instead of focusing on the bad, may we practice focusing on what good there is. Let’s take things literally moment by moment, day by day, so that we get to experience things God has for us, and allow faith to win the battle for our hearts and minds, as I am so grateful won the battle for mine this week.
With love and hope,
Shawn
What if we can't? But what if we can?
Tomorrow as I run the NYC marathon for @bravelikegabe and my ACC family, I also am running for my core four, Stephen, Kate, Gavin and Matty.
These four have been pillars of strength, courage, compassion, comfort, resilience, hope and love in my life. To honor who they are in my life…
I am running for Stephen, my rock covered in laughter.
I am running for Kate, my sunshine and joy.
I am running for Gavin, my calm and peace.
I am running for Matthew, my fun-loving guy.
I love my core four with all my heart and their support and encouragement means the world. I pray they see that they too have it in them to try hard things and instead of saying “I can’t,” that they too will choose to say, “what if I can?”
If you too are meeting a challenge,
I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we give thanks for those beside us and what they bring to our lives. Let’s allow ourselves to hold them in our hearts and minds to give us fuel in our souls as we meet our challenges, as these four will do for me tomorrow.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Last training run done💙🙌🏃🏻♀️
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