The Single Life

"All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering
if somewhere, somehow theirs someone perfect who might be searching for us"
Kevin Arnold, The Wonder Years

It never fails.  During the holidays I am constantly being reminded of being single.  In fact, it seem to be worse this year.  Don't get me wrong, I get people want me to find that someone special.  In the case of my brother, than means paying for my eharmoney subscription.  He swears its going to work one of these days, but come on, for every success story, there are at least 10 people who didn't find their match.  Since I'm not a huge believer in it working I'm likely to be one of those 10.  Co-workers are pulling for me as well.... or they just like to remind me that I'm single.  One of them mentioned that after 30, I should be looking for all the help I can get. I'm also encouraged by friends to talk to any cute girl we see, no matter where we are.  Their theory:  What can it hurt?  Likely my pride.....

Every so often in the past, I have had the thoughts of wanting to find someone.  Then I think about my life, having time to myself and being use to my lifestyle and wonder if I would be ready to give it all up for someone.  Nope, I wasn't ready.  However, in the last month I feel a change of heart and head coming on.  I find myself thinking about what life would be like if I had a significant other.  At least I would know what to do in my spare time :).  Maybe it's just the holiday season.  Maybe its seeing all of my married friends.  Maybe is the constant reminders from students and others.  Or maybe its God letting me know that it might be time in His plan.  In the end, its all about what He wants for me.  He has been molding me and shaping me for His purpose.  During that time, He has also been preparing me.  I am a big believer that we aren't meant to be alone.  There are a few who may be chosen to do so, but I don't think I am one of those.

So with this being said, I'm pretty sure God isn't just going to drop someone in my lap.  I actually have to pay attention and be ready for that person to come into my life.  Where do I meet them?  Is it through eharmoney where I'm emailing with a few people? (if I lived on the west side I would have been on a few dates by now)  Is it through church, where I'm still figuring out a home church and a possible small group situation.  Is it being set up by friends?  Is it someone from my past?  Who knows.  I don't have the time to worry about all that.  Instead, I'm preparing to be the best companion I can by continuing to let God shape me into the man He wants me to be.  What does that look like?  Seems like a topic for another blog :).

I feel like the biggest thing I need to remember in this whole search is that I need to be me.  I need to be who God has made me to be.  Currently, that's a single guy trying to figure out what God's plan for me in.  At some point, it will be a life as a husband and being a leader for my family.  I'll be the first to admit, with many people agreeing, that I'm not the most patient person in the world, but this process plus multiple others has taught me that things truly do happen in His time.  Someday I'll get to unleash my hopeless romantic side on some unsuspecting woman who will fall head over heels for me.  Realistically I'll be the one to fall for her, but I'm all for it :) and can't wait for that day to come.

Sorry for a blog with not much deep thought.  I have a lot going on in my head and haven't been able to organize my thought into a blog.  Hopefully a slight reprieve from work and some time in the mountains will help me organize those thoughts.  Until then....

Blessings

Jon

Man's Best Friend

This post in inspired by the 1st lab I've ever loved.  My parents had the unfortunate task of deciding to put their dog Ruby down this past weekend.  It was a very sad day for them.  Ruby was truly the inspiration for me to get a lab.  I last saw her a few weekends ago when my parents came to visit. She was having a hard time moving as she couldn't keep her legs under her.  My dad kept saying that all her blood work came back and her mind was right, but her legs were just not as healthy as the rest of her.  I know my dad took this especially hard and rightfully so.  Ruby took over as the child of the house when my brother and I moved out.  She kept both my parents entertained when she was young by being very playful and causing numerous smiles over the years.  She loved people, especially my dad.  She knew the sound of his truck and would be sitting at the door waiting for him when he came home.  There is just something about a man and his dog.  I could go on and on with story's about Ruby and my dad.  She brought so much joy to his life.  Now that task has been left up to Oakley.  I've already been told that Oak has been making a few more trips to test trains with my dad.  The bond is becoming stronger, but the heartache of losing Ruby will last a while longer.

So why is it that we get attached to animals?  My own experience with Tag has led me to ponder this thought.  How is it that this shedding, slobbering and at times gassy dog has wormed him way past my defense system and become an integral part in my life.  How is that animals throughout history have done this.  I have read books like "Marley and Me", "Racing in the Rain" and "A Dogs Purpose".  They took me closer to tears than any other book I have ever read in my life.  But my question is why?  I have a few theories that may only apply to me, but a few others that I think apply to everyone.

First and foremost dogs teach us about unconditional love.  I believe all dogs are capable of this.  Yes each breed has its quirks, but the one thing that remains, is that they are willing to do a lot for their master.  I have never understood how people beat dogs and don't for them at all, yet still have them around.  I have become a bit of a cynic when it comes to all these people who abuse any animal.  I don't understand because there are so many stories of how dogs have saved people from others and themselves.  I talked about the dark place I use to be in and I can't say that Tag is the main reason for my move from that place, but he has  been a huge part of showing me that love.  Even when I don't want him to be around me, he waits patiently, and when I call, he is ready to just be around me.  He meets me at the door each time or runs back and forth from the gate to the back door until I open it when he is outside, just excited to see me.  Yes he does this for anyone, but I know there is something a little special in it for me.  He is there when the day is crappy and takes stress away by just showing he cares.  It's amazing that he knows when its time to just sit and cuddle with me.  Even when I get mad at him for whatever reason, he is instantly ready to be by my side when I am ready.  I leave him for hours on end and he is still just as happy when I get home.  He never holds a grudge, but also isn't afraid to let me know when I'm not pulling my weight with him by acting out just enough for me to get mad, but not enough to cause damage to anything.  What a smart dog!!!!

I like my quality alone time.  However, after 3.5 years with Tag, alone time seems wrong without him laying near me, sighing when I haven't played with him or getting up every once in a while to walk by me just so I'll pet him.

Responsibility is another life lesson.  I always hear about couples getting a dog before having a child because it changes your life.  If you get a puppy, you have to teach it, just like you will your child.  Once you have a dog, decision's are based on its lively hood as well as your own.  My travel schedule in the summer is based on where I can take Tag.  I'm just happy my parents and family understand and let me take him wherever.

Here are a list of other traits that I won't go in depth on: Loyalty, Patience, Trust.

The greatest lesson Tag has taught me is to enjoy the simple things in life.  He is a constant reminder of how chasing a ball can be so fun.  He is excited every single time he sees one.  I wish I could be half as excited as that about something in my life.  Watching him chase the ball, fall over it, slip, play in the snow, hike, bouldering (Yep, he's pretty good at following me up rocks), makes me smile and enjoy life itself.  Its a constant reminder that I shouldn't take it so serious and instead, I should just chase a ball around :).

I can't even think about the day I'll have to make the decision my dad had to make.  I don't think I could do it.  On the other hand, I hope I know when to do it.  As with my family, I don't ever want Tag to suffer.  He has been a loyal and worthy companion since the day I got him.  I think God has used Tag to open my eyes to the things mentioned above and see them in a new light.  The day will come when he passes, like all things in life, there is an end.  I'm just glad I'll be able to spend as much time as I can with him.  I'm still trying to figure out what he is going to do when I get married and he moves to number 2 on my list.  I'm hoping he's smart enough to understand.

So with this I say thanks Ruby for the fun, the love and all the joy your brought to the family.  You'll be missed.

Difference Maker

The past couple of weeks has been rough.  I have no idea what it is, but I have just felt run down in all areas of my life.  I was able to break away last night from life for a few moments and go to a Needtobreathe concert.  I'm not usually a concert guy, but this one was I was looking forward to ever since a friend introduced them to me over a year ago.  These guys are awesome.  The concert was great.  I was surrounded by old friends and new friends.  The venue was great, the crowd good and the music awesome.  I'll admit, they were a little more rock than I was thinking they were going to be, but it was just fine.  Big, bright, flashing lights with loud speakers.  There was lots of dancing and singing from the crowd.  They finished their set which included a lot of their old stuff mixed with some of the new.  Of course the crowed wanted an encore and started chanting "Needtobreathe".  I was yelling because they had yet to play my favorite song "Something Beautiful".  The lead singer came back to the stage with his acoustic guitar and let the crowd calm down.  He then started singing this song:

Yeah ain't it just amazing
How a god can tend a broken man
Yeah let him find a fortune
And then ruin it with his own two hands
Oh isn't it amazing
How a man can find himself alone
Calling through the darkness
For an answer that is never known
He walks on up the hill
The rock on which he stands
Looks back at the crowd
Looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker

Oh I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one who speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of god

Yeah isn't it amazing
How a man can find himself alone
Calling thorough the darkness
For an answer that is never known
He walks on up the hill
The rock on which he stands
Looks back at the crowd
Looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker

Oh I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of god

Yeah I am on the fence about
Nearly everything I've seen
And I have felt the fire
Put out with too much gasoline
And we're all strangers passing through
Places one afternoon
And life is but a vision
In a window that we're peeking through
A hopeless conversation
With a man who says he cares a lot
It's a hopeless confrontation
About who might throw a punch or not
But we are all transgressors
We're all sinners
We're all astronauts
So if you're beating death
Then raise your hand
And shut up if you're not

Oh I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of god

I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of god

I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of god

Video here if you didn't catch it on my facebook page (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyhFbmIjP1k)

This song rocked me.  It sounded just like it does in the video.  I had to hear the verse a few times, but I finally caught on to what he was saying.  I've tried to figure out how to pull myself out of this mini funk I've been in, to figure out what would make me better, help me get through and remember why I am here, why I'm at Whitworth and why I've been called.  What is the difference between good days and bad?  Christ.  Good days are focused on Him and what He is calling me to do.  Bad days are when I venture out on my own.  Man, I felt like someone took the bible itself and slapped me upside the head.  I feel encouraged at the reminder the song provided.  Knowing it will be tough, but there is a difference maker out there for us all.

Blessings,

Jon

Song

I'm trying out a new church and the 2nd time I ever went there was a a guy leading worship and his voice was awesome.  The last time I went to church, they had a CD and this song was on it.  I'm loving it right now.  You can listen to it at http://somaspokane.org/resources/music/  The song is Grace and Peace.  Lyrics below.

All my soul
Has come to be an instrument of hope. 
My Lord has made me useful
Come now child,
Lay your burndens down and trade for rest your debt,
Come now and be made well
God of light shine down
I am overwhelmed
God of light shine down
I am overwhelmed
(x2)

Grace and Peace to the weary soul whose heart is full of holes
Grace and Peace to the fatherless and widow we declare
Grace and Peace to the prodigal whose traded love for gold
Grace and Peace from a God whose yoke is easy and His load is light

Oh my lord
I'm set apart please let me not be still
Find me in Your will
Take myself, I offer up this empty cup let it
Be filled with your life

I can not be still x4

Grace and Peace to the weary soul whose heart if full of holes
Grace and Peace to the fatherless and widow we declare
Grace and Peace to the prodical who has traded love for gold
Grace and Peace from a God whose yoke is easy and load is light

Grace and Peace x2
I was hopeless
You led with light
I was lifeless
You gave me life
I was drowning
You cast a line
I was useless
Now I'm alive in you

x2 (previous 2 verses)

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)

Blessings,

Jon

More to Come

Wow, its been a few months since my last post.  Guess that mean's only one thing:  Work has started.  Life has been crazy since August 1.  Luckily it started slow (10 days to warm up) and ramped up quickly from there and has yet to slow down.  Even when I took a quick trip to Hawaii to be a part of Kurt getting married, it didn't really slow down.  Its been a weird year thus far with the shear volume of athletes we are seeing.  Typically we have a lull before basketball starts in mid October, but that doesn't seem to be the case this year.  The volume of stress and work to do will continue for us all until fall sports end.  Then we might be able to take a breath.  I have a few other blogs in process of being written, but after church yesterday, I felt like I needed to put a few quick things down and to let all 6 of my readers know I'm still alive.

In the midst of all that is going on I'm constantly reminded to find the calm in the storm.  I have been reading the story of Job and I wish I had the faith he had.  He had a group of friends that come to talk to him during his most trying times and he still holds steady in his faithfulness to God.  My problems are minor compared to those he faced and most people are facing in today's world.  The challenge it to keep the faith in good times and in bad.  The bigger challenge is to help others along in during their time of need.  So the question I have been struggling with is how do I do that.  I see athletes every day that are struggling.  I am an adviser for 16 freshman who I know are struggling with a variety of issues concerning their first year at college.  But how can I make an impact and help them through their struggles.  How can I be a light in my neighborhood that is struggling.  How can help the two guys that are in the park every morning drinking or the kids skipping school to smoke weed and drink?  Do I even want to help?

The biggest problem I see in what is written above is the word "I".  I can't do it alone.  As much as I want to be a problem solver, a person people come to in their time of need or a light to world, I need help because as much as they are broken people, I am a broken person.  So whats the difference?  Jesus.  I may be broken, but I can take joy in knowing that brokenness is made whole by the death of Jesus Christ.  Grace has saved me and made me whole once again.

So what do I do with this belief?  How can I be a disciple to those I'm surrounded by.  Am I willing to let go, put myself out there and trust, truly trust that God's will be done in my life?  I hope to address these questions in the coming months through a series of blogs.  (Yep, that's a hook so maybe I can keep my 6 readers)

My Marathon Experience

What would possess a person to train for 5-6 months running/walking/hiking over 450 miles just to get to the point where you can run 26.2 miles in one day.  Don't ask me because I don't why I did it.  However, as with all experiences, I learned some great things along the way.  For example, my hatred for ice baths remained as strong as it was during my my college days, but it was an absolute necessity.  There were plenty of lessons in self discipline, humility, reaching goals and non running lessons from the hours and hours I was running by myself and had the time to think about life.

As I look back, I think the starting point was watching NBC's highlight show of the Hawaii Iron Man.  There are people that finish the grueling competition that don't look like they should.  I feel like I should be able to do the things they are doing.  Maybe it was my competitive side, maybe its because I was bored, but that's when the ideas started in my head of doing something that not many others would try or even consider.  I knew I couldn't do an Iron man.  I don't like to swim so the natural choice was to try for the marathon, especially since I had already ran a half.  As the weeks went on while making this decision in the fall of 2011 I started to think even more.  Why am I going to do this?  My body didn't hold up well during the half marathon so what makes me think I can do a full?  Well, with all these questions the idea just became a challenge to myself.  I don't typically back down form a challenge so it was on.  I started to run off and on and started to look for which marathon I was going to run.  By the time January rolled around I had found a training program online that I really liked.  Unlike the program I had for my half, this seemed to be a more body friendly program.  The mileage was still up, but it did it in such a way that I was able to get plenty of rest.  I felt like the second biggest challenge of the whole idea of the marathon is the training.  You have to be disciplined or its going to be an awful experience that takes a long time to recover from both physically and emotionally.  For me, the training started in January.  Not exactly a great time to be running in Spokane (ended up being pretty mild so I could run, it was just cold) or its not like I have a lot of extra time to do it with my work schedule.  This is where I learned to be self disciplined to get my runs in.  Cold or not, time or not I had to get it done.  The first 4 weeks is always easy to do something.  After that is when it becomes tough.  I'm proud to say that out of 25 long runs on the schedule I only missed 2.  Out of 115 other schedule days I only missed 10.  Its not perfect by any means, but it feels good to look back on the calendar I created and know that I did everything I could.  The bigger deal is that of the days I missed, 0 were from being sick.  This was from a combination of sacrificing some things to get more sleep, eat better and recover well.

Now lets talk about the race.  I drove to downtown Seattle to park in a garage right by the course since I had no other idea of where to park.  In order to be down there on time I woke up at 4am for a race that started at 7.  I was there far to early so I took a quick nap in the back of my 4Runner.  Yet another reason I'm a proud owner of a 4Runner.  I had a few friends running the half so I set out to see if I would run into them as I dropped off my gear bag.  I did find Jaime right before the race started.  Its always nice to see a familiar face.  She was running the half and was starting way further up than I so it would be unlikely I would see her on the course.

 They do a corral start so I was in corral 22 which meant I actually started at 7:30.  Everyone is really excited at the start and some people dress crazy.  I was having fun by singing with songs over the loud speakers and chatting with the people next to me.  Instead of going paragraph style I'll just give you some highlights of the race and what miles they occurred at.

Miles 1-5- Mostly through downtown.  Had a super steep hill that you almost had to walk down for fear of falling.  At one point you could see part of the course that came back towards the finish line and there were already professionals running past.  Slightly demoralizing.  I also saw my bro and mom for the first time during this stretch.  Always nice to see fans cheering for you.  Two of the best signs I saw were on this stretch.  At the bottom of the really steep hill a guys had a sign that said "5142 miles to the amazon...Keep running".  The other "Hey total stranger...YOU ROCK!!!"
 

Mile 6-12:  This part of the race ran around a park along the water.  Beautiful trail.  Right before this you break away from the half marathoners and I just know (as Jamie would confirm later) that every half marathoner would look at the full marathoners and think to themselves "suckers" with a little smirk.  Favorite sign "If this were easy I would be doing it" held by a kid about 12 years old

Mile 13-15 Random little section before getting on the bridge.  Saw my mom and bro again at the half way mark and I was still feeling good.  I was averaging 9 minute miles which was well ahead of my goal, which was scary.

Mile 15-20:  This was a tough stretch on the I-90 bridge.  This was the first big straight section so you could see exactly how far you had to go.  That messes with your head when your 15 miles in.  I started to get tired as the sun became a factor.  Once you enter the tunnel, the road has a slant to it so you have to change your stride, which causes extra stress on a stressed body.  I started to tighten up and after mile 17 I had to stop and stretch a few time.  Also, not very many people cheering here and the water was warm......

Mile 20-21:  For some reason i had a second wind.  Maybe the Goo was kicking in or I just wanted to get off the bridge but I ran this section in 8:30, up hill.  I would pay for it in the next mile

Mile 21-22: Feeling dead.  Goo wasn't helping, stretching was a little.  Close to mile 22 I caught my foot on a piece of raised tar and ate it. I tried to catch myself but as my quads contracted, they cramped causing my knees to go straight, meaning I took the brunt of the force on my left arm, causing a sharp shooting pain through my collar bone.  Most collar bone fractures come from falling and landing on an outstretched hand.  I was scared for about 10 seconds, but then the pain went away and I was still coherent enough to check myself out.  It took me a few minutes, but I got up and continued on.  A good example of perseverance for me.  There was a guy running next to me as it happened and he was scared for me.  I think he thought he tripped me.  Nope, just my own fatigue caused clumsiness.  He stayed around to make sure I was ok.  Thanks guy.  Right around mile 22 I saw my mom and bro again.  I'm guessing they knew how tired I was because they cheered louder than usual :)

This was about 5 minutes after I fell

 Mile 22-26.2:  I had been walking for 1 minute and running for 2 since my fall.  This was killing my time, but the course was winning at this point.  There were long inclines that I didn't expect.  The topo map of the race made these seem like they would be smaller and not as bad as they were.  Likely, being 23 miles in made them worse.  No so much the up, but the down then up then down then up.  I had to take shorter strides because if my legs got out from  under me I would either cramp and fall or just fall from muscle fatigue.  I kept passing the same people while I ran because they would pass me when I was walking.  It helped my ego a bit knowing I wasn't the only one struggling :).  The final .2 miles ends on an uphill, which is just mean.  I did jog it out though and finished 5 minutes over my goal time.  I didn't care, I was just glad to be done.

The first 10 minutes after the race is a bit of a blur.  There is so much going on in your head and around you.  As soon as you cross the finish line they hand you medal (pretty sure I dropped an F*&$ yeah when they handed me mine).  Then you look ahead and there are so many free things around you.  People handing you food or drinks from each side as you walk.  The first was ice cold water.  I chugged half of it right away, bent over and almost vomited.  Not my brightest idea.  As I stumbled through I grabbed a Gatorade and then had my finishers photo taken.  After that you continue through the gauntlet of bread, fruit, bars, Jamba juice (likely the best one I will ever have in my life), candy, gummy bears an a whole block of stuff.  The last thing you get is essentially an emergency blanket to keep you warm.  I have no idea how you are suppose to carry everything and then figure out where your going.  Good thing my friend Lisa was there to help guide me.  She walked me to where I met up with my mom and bro.  I don't know exactly the things I said to her other than "i kinda wanna cry".  Her response "ummm, don't do that".

With all the above going on around me I was feeling a lot of emotions after crossing the finish line. This part was a little weird for me because I don't really consider myself an emotional person.  Maybe when all is said and done and my defenses are lowered due to fatigue, I do have emotions.  Shhhhh, don't tell my students.  I would like them to continue to think my heart is made of stone :)  So here is what I was feeling:

Joy- I was done
Accomplished- I set a goal, took 5 months to work towards it and finished it.  Not quite the time I wanted, but nonetheless a time I am happy with.
Fulfilled- After all the hard work
Exhausted- I think this is why I wanted to cry.

Here are some stats from the race:

Official time: 4:25:39 (Pace 10:09 per mile)
Splits: 5K- 27:33   (Pace 8:53 per mile)
10K- 55:18   (Pace 8:54 per mile)
13.1 miles (half way) 1:56:25  (Pace 8:53 per mile)
17.6 miles- 2:41:57  (Pace 9:32 per mile)
20 miles- 3:11:09 (Pace 9:33 per mile)

Place: 1352 out of 3072 Overall    155 out of 265 for 30-34 year olds    887 out of 1644 for males

I think the biggest lesson I learned was that no matter how much you train, how hard you work, things are still going to be hard.  My real life application of this is likening it to faith.  No matter how hard you work, study, pray living out faith won't be easy.  There are  many external influences that will cause us to stumble, but the important thing is to get back up and continue on.  Fortunately, with faith, falling seems to hurt just slightly less knowing that if you allow, God will be there to pick you up.  Seems like simple lesson that can be seen in life a lot, but as I have reflected over the last week this seems to be the one I come back to.  As simple as is sounds, as with most things, it tougher to live out. 

So whats next?  I vowed for the first 2 or 3 days that I would never run another one.  My mind is changing a bit.  I could really see myself running more half's.  My buddy Law wanst me to do a 50 or 100 mile race in 2 years.  No way.  26.2 is long enough for me :)

Blessings

Jon

Thoughts

Sermon today was based on Mark 10: 32-45.  Here are some things I found intriguing and very thought provoking:

"The diciples loved Jesus so much that they followed even when they didn't understand."

"It is amazing how easily we can mix worship and diciplieship with self interest."

"Real dicipleship is taking up the cross even when its hard and costly"

"The greatest seeks to serve, not be served."

"The greatest serves voluntarily and sacrificially"

Uncle Jon's Crazy Time

Wow, just realized exactly how long it has been since my last post.  Life has been flying by since then.  Currently I'm sitting with lake Chelan right out the window as I'm on my annual family vacation where my parents rent a house on a lake for a week.  Its a great time to get together as family.  This week is a little different than those from past years as I'm laying low preparing to run a marathon on Saturday.  I may be over thinking it, but come on, 26.2 miles would weigh on lots of people's minds :).  As always a week with the niece and nephews is always pure joy.  I sat and talked with Lincoln this morning on a little deck we have down by the lake.  He talked to me about being nervous for kindergarten next year because he just doesn't know what to expect.  Yes, he used those exact words.  Kid if freaking smart.  Adaliah is the most affectionate of the children and loves her uncle Jon.  She likes to sit by me at meals and always has a hand, elbow, foot or leg touching me at all times.  She loves to talk and from what I'm learning, is a fashion queen.  She has a reason for everything she wears.  It's entertaining to see her stand over the suitcase in the morning methodically picking our her outfit for the day.  Gideon is so big and brave.  That kid has hit his head or take a plunge off a couch or chair at least 4 times a day.  He'll scream and yell for about 2 minutes and then he will go and do it again.  He isn't the smartest of the kids, but he is willing to try anything.  Currently he has a pingpong ball size bruise on his forehead and manages to keep hitting the same spot on table corners and railings.  They all seem to be at just the right height for him to hit it.  The last time I saw the kids I put in charge of the older two for a few hours of baby sitting time.  This would be the first time they were left alone with Uncle Jon.  Scary on all fronts.  I decided we were going to have Uncle Jon Crazy Time.  This consisted of running around, jumping up and down and screaming as loud as we could for about 30 minutes straight.  Ever since we have been on this trip, the question that keeps getting asked by both Lincoln and Adaliah is "when are we having Uncle Jon Crazy Time?"  I have a lot to live up to.  Good thing we have a grassy hill to roll and do somersaults down :).  These weeks are always a great reminder about how lucky I am to have such a great family.  We talk every year about how blessed we are do this and take our annual guys golf trip every year.  Its great to be around family and enjoy the love shared by us all.  I'm using this blog to update you on what May and June have been like for me.  From being part of an amazing and historic ride with our baseball team to getting stitches and surgery withing the course of a week.  Read on if you want to know what life has been like for me. 

As some of you know Whitworth Baseball made its first ever trip to the college world series this year.  I don't usually work baseball, but Hudson Mathew was born and that took Cheree away from her normal duties with baseball.  I guess that's a good reason.......  Anyway, it didn't take me long to fit in with the team.  Baseball guys are weird, but hilarious.  The superstition part of baseball will never cease to amaze me and  neither will the entertainment that goes on during the game.  From the pelvic thrust dance moves to rally dicks, these guys have a lot of fun which is only multiplied by winning.  Their goal all season was to have 3 dog piles for the season.  I was there for the two they were able to do.  The first was the last weekend of conference when they edged out Whitman (always love beating Whitman) in the final game to clinch the automatic NCAA birth.  After spending the next two weeks before the regional with the team it was time I became an official part of it.  The term was "bought in" and that exactly what I did.  I bought in to the shenanigans of rally mids even while being in shorts.  I was bought in to the team, what the stood for and the goals they had set.  The second was at the regional in McMinnville.  Loved having "home" games and beating up on two of the nations top 10 teams in Concordia Texas and Trinity (my record against Trinity this year is 4-1).   Being apart of the regional run was awesome.  Unfortunately we drew the defending national champs in game 1 of the world series and whether it was nerves or just one of those games or the monkey tail beard I had, we got beat.  

The ultimate buy in: Monkey tail beard.  It is true, the left
side of my face has no facial hair what so ever....

Cool moment for the seniors.  Not the way they wanted it to
end, but this group help lead the program to where it is now.

However, the team saw what it takes to be national champs and will hopefully take that into account as they prepare for next year.  The team was young and now have valuable experience moving into the next few years.  The best part of this experience for me was to be able to enjoy the success with my friend and the head coach Dan Ramsay.  A lot of things were said when he was hired so young, but he has been the best thing to happen to Whitworth Baseball in a lot of years.  The other great part was the comments we heard from around Appleton.  Whitworth quickly became a crowd favorite as the guys did things the right way and made a great impression during interviews, interactions with fans, giving autographs to eager kids and being appreciative towards our host family.  Its nice to know that these characteristics will continue as part of the new tradition of Whitworth Baseball under Dan.

Some of you heard that I tried to cut my finger off about two weeks ago.  I had used a ladder to climb up into my maple tree to trim out dead and low hanging branches.  I had moved from the spot where I had climbed up on the ladder to a branch on the opposite side.  While cutting one a dead branch the hand saw cut through sooner than expected and cut the inside tip of my middle finger.  The gash  was approx an inch long with .5 inches being so destroyed by the saw you that parts of my finger were missing.  So my dillema became getting out of the tree since I would have to climb to get back to the ladder.  Thankfully, a kid was riding on his bike by my house and moved the ladder so I could get down.  5 stitches and $500 later, my finger is feeling good.  Its a little deformed, but I've been told chicks dig scares.  Maybe I'll finally find a date :)

Only 5 days after trying to cut my finger off I had LASIK.  I was finally fed up with dealing with contacts and glasses (especially having to be in my glasses for two weeks prior to surgery).  I had looked into the possibility of doing it last year, but was unable to afford it.  One of my friends had it done in May and told me how wonderful it was and that I should look into it.  This was at about the same time our benefit packets were getting renewed.  After some research into FSA and a few other things I figured out I could do it pretty cheap.  It only made it better that the latest technology came down in price and I received a discount for working at Whitworth.  I guess that was my bonus for the year :).  The procedure was actually easier than anticipated.  It is weird when they clamp down on your eye to cut the flap in your cornea and then move that flap around.  He told me to stare at an orange light, but as he moved my cornea around a bit, the light kept moving.  I didn't know if I was suppose to follow the light or just stare straight ahead.  It was kind of comical.  The surgeon was amazing.  He was a little awkward during initial appointments, but in the surgical room, he was awesome.  He talked to me the entire time to make sure I knew what was going on and answered any questions I had while the procedure was going on.  Right after the surgery was by far the worst.  Burning, tearing and itchy eyes for 6 hours.  I slept for as much as I could, but it was tough.  The best part, these cool goggles I had to wear to bed for the first week :).

 
Not what I would call conducive to sleeping.....  The actual best part was the fact that I had 20/15 vision in my right eye and 20/20 in my left.  That may change over the next 3 months, but not much.  A week post surgery I was still at 20/15 and 20/20.  I am fighting some dry eye symptoms, but that's it.  Seeing without the use of contacts or glasses is awesome.  I had been wearing contacts for 16 years (I do miss the green eyes) and glasses since I was 8 or 9.  I was in such a bedtime routine that two days after the surgery I filled a contact case with solution one night before going for bed.  Evidently a 16 year routine takes some time to change.  As of now, it was a great investment and I'm excited to do all the outdoor activities I love without the problem of contacts.

I was in Chelan for a few days when got a random phone call from my sister in laws brother.  Some of you know him as Muie, other as Timmy.  I didn't have my phone on me at the time so he left a message stating I should call him soon, as in that night.  I also had a text message from a 910 number about 30 minutes after.  I googled it and found that it came from North Carolina.  The text referred to a name I use to go by at camp.  Hmmm, Timmy calling me and a random text using a camp name...  He must be hanging out with a former staff member or camper from Camp Perkins.  I ran through names in my head of who I may have heard was living back east.  None came to head so I called Timmy ready to ask who he was hanging out with.  Of course he wouldn't answer the phone, but a female's voice answered instead.  That didn't really help narrow it down.  After conversing for a few minutes she had to tell me who she was.  Needless to say its always great to hear from people you remember from camp days.  Its been over a decade since I have talked to this person and I have to admit, that's way to long.  I've said it before, but the days spent at camp and the people I met will always hold a special place in my heart.  Hearing from her was a great way to start my week of vacation, relaxation and fun.  Thanks Timmy and Erin!!!!!

Hope all is well in your lives and look for a few more post soon on my marathon experience and a topic I like to call The Search.

Blessings

Listening

Growing up I was considered a good listener.  I was part of a group in Junior High that were picked for mini retreat because we were good at listening to people.  My friends in high school and those I worked with at Camp Perkins told me I was a good listener and people would confide in me.  My mom would say I'm "mother deaf" which means I hear her, but don't really listen :).  I listen to my athletes, coworkers and coaches on a daily basis.  With the above evidence, it would be safe to assume that I'm above average at listening.  So why is it that I have a hard time listening to God?  Why is it that I struggle so much with hearing the right message and spend so much time trying to listen, but ultimately failing.  

Chances are its because I'm hearing, but not truly listening.  My selfishness and own desires cloud the message and make it more into something I want rather than what is being conveyed.  To me, its similar to listening to someone and picking up only certain words and thinking you have the whole message.  People tend to fixate on particular words, thinking they have the whole message when in actuality, the point being made is missed completely.  I have seen the effects of this a few times in the last month as I was certain God was moving my life in a certain direction.  I was excited at the prospects and what was lying ahead of me in both my personal and professional life.  This excitement led to expectations and I started to slowly plan what life would be like down the road.  Then it happened.  God made me do a 180....on two occasions (no this doesn't mean I spun in a circle).  As I've had time to think about those situations, I've realized I didn't listen.  As I said above, my own hopes and desires clouded the message God was telling me about His plan for my life.  I took 3 or 4 "words" out of a sentence of 20 and drew my own conclusions.  Of course this led to disappointment and other emotions.  In the end, they didn't last because I realized my selfish desires had led me in the wrong directions once again.  However, it left me pondering the same questions about how to better listen to God.

I use to think that God's answer to prayer or to questions was some sort of feeling I would get.  My prayers would boil down to a yes or no answer and I would wait to see if my heart rate would increase, anxiety would kick in and/or a sense of happiness would over take me when I prayed.  Instead, these physiological response seem to be my head telling me what I want to hear, not what is actually trying to be conveyed.  So now I'm back to square one.  The struggle of actually listening.  Good relationships are based on communication, which needs listening.  Strengthening my personal relationship with God would help me understand his communication better.  Its going to take sacrifice.  I have to be willing to sacrifice my wants and desires, knowing that God will give me the desires of my heart when I "take up my cross and follow Him." Always easier to say than done, but I'm slowly making progress.  I continue to take a few steps forward only to fall one back, but knowing God is patiently waiting for me makes the tough journey seem a little easier.  Thanks for reading.

Blessings,

Jon

Home Improvement

Its spring so that means major house cleaning right?  We'll I took it as major house changes.  For those who don't know, I have a new roommate.  He moved in a month and a half ago.  The day he started to bring his stuff over, he decided that instead of moving the queen bed out of the second bedroom on the main floor, he would just move upstairs.  My upstairs wasn't exactly the nicest of places to live.  I went up there an average of once a month for the two years I've lived here.  Needless to say it was used for storage and a place to kick the ball for my dog during the winter since it was carpeted.  I was surprised yet happy that I was able to keep my guest room (not that I have a ton of guest come over, but its nice to have the option).  Once basketball was over we started the renovation.  It took me four color samples to find the color of "cup of cocoa" for the upstairs.  The lady at the paint desk at Homedepot mentioned how had never seen a guy care so much about a color.  I don't know if that was a compliment or not....  It took 3 days to paint (due to work and edging, which I HATE) and then another week before the carpet was installed.  But its done and I really like it.  So does Bo.  You can see some comparison pics below.

These are just two additional photos because I like the way it looks :)

Not long after the upstairs was complete I had my first major issue with my house.  Bo called me on a Saturday night and said there was a pipe leaking in the basement.  Of course I was concerned, but wouldn't be home for another few hours.  When I got home, I couldn't find it so I wasn't worried.  Two days later I was doing dishes and ran down stairs to change out my laundry and noticed there was a steady drip coming from the floor right above the laundry basin.  Oh crap.  I ran back upstairs and figured out that the drain pipe from my sink had a hole in it.  I though it was a small hole, but as you can see from the picture, the hole was large and had been there for a while.  I was fortunate to find a guy who charged $35/hr who came over and fixed it in two hours.  He was awesome and I'm extremely grateful that I randomly found him.  There was some minor damage to the cabinets since we had to saw thru the back of them to access the pipe, but he made very clean cuts and it will be a good challenge for me to fix it. 

 

There are more home improvement projects on the way.  Phase 1 of the back yard should happen this summer and I'll likely begin phase 1 on the basement during the winter.  Oh boy, home improvement :).

Blessings,

Jon

Perspective

I wrote this on my way home from a trip to Wisconsin.  It was the day after our loss in the Sweet 16 of the Division III national tournament.  I've been editing over the last few week, but it is somewhat easy to relate to during this March Madness time of year.  Enjoy.

Losing is hard.  Losing means that one team’s season is over and another gets to continue.  We lost a few days ago.  There are lots of reasons why.  We didn’t hit free throws at the end of regulation.  We didn’t get a shot off in the last 10 seconds to win it.  We turned the ball over late in overtime.  The refs missed a 3 second and a 5 second call.  They also missed two consecutive fouls and then called a bogus jump ball.  We lost.  Losing in sports causes grown men to go crazy and cry.  It ends careers.  We had a great group of seniors that I will miss dearly.  Its hard when you are expecting to be with the group for another week and then BAM, it’s over.  Life moves on for sure, but sometimes we miss the point.  We miss some of the things life is really about. 

I am often asked which team I like to work with the most.  I love soccer, but for various reasons, basketball is my favorite.  The roster size is easier for me to manage and it seems easier to build relationships.  I also spend more time with them as I travel almost every weekend from mid November to March with them.  For some of the seniors, I have spent 4 years getting to know them.  From the time they were freshman until now.  I have had the privilege of watching them grow into the men they are today.  With any luck, God has allowed me to help mold and shape them into something the world will someday recognize as great.  One is getting married, another moving on to be a personal trainer and a third has to be the biggest improvement I’ve ever seen in a man.  There are jokes about how he is going to be, but he is one of the most loved players ever on any team I’ve been on.

We had two different situations happen to us after the game to really put the world in perspective.  Yes losing sucks, but there are moments that remind us how miniscule basketball really is.  Our coaches wife made the trip to cheer us on despite being 7 months pregnant.  After the game she became sick and was taken to an urgent care.  Fortunately all was ok.  For our coach, losing was hard.  It ended his time with the senior mentioned above.  He felt like the refs screwed us.  But all of that did not matter when his wife and future child may be in danger.  Life was put back in perspective for him after a tough night.

The other moment happened at the airport.  As we were walking through the airport looking for a place to eat, we noticed that fire trucks, police cars and ambulances were assembling near a gate.   

Since 9/11, any gathering of emergency vehicles like this at an airport causes some concern for those seeing it.  However, rationale thought creeps in and makes you think that if something major were going on, they wouldn’t be bringing the plane near the terminal.  Instead, they would take it to the opposite corner of the airport.  Then you start to think about someone on the plane being sick, but the mass gathering of vehicles wouldn’t happen for just one person.  As we were standing there watching, we noticed a military honor guard assembling below the gate.  One of the coaches finally asked someone what was going on and were told that a soldier killed in Afghanistan was returning home on the flight pulling into that gate.  In the past 8 years I’ve learned to keep my emotions to myself and lock them up.  However, I couldn’t keep my feelings locked down as the plane pulled into the gate.

Fire trucks on either side launched water over the top of the plane from each side.  Every firefighter, police officer, military officer and grounds person was standing at attention as the plane pulled in.   

We watched as they took an American flag into the cargo hold to cover the casket, as they unloaded the soldier’s casket and as the honor guard carried him to a waiting vehicle. 

I'm not very good when it comes to emotions or describing things in a way for you to understand the feelings I was having.  I had a sense of honor to be able to see something like this after what I thought was a tough weekend for me.  I felt sad both for the solider and their loved ones, but also for myself because I have a tendency to forget there is way more to life than the little world I keep myself in.  I felt gratitude for all those serving in the armed forces and their willingness to put their lives on the line when asked by our government.  My mind wondered to my grandparents who have served, to family members that have served and to friends that are currently serving.  As I watched the soldier moved to another vehicle I said a little prayer.  I thanked God for putting perspective back into my life, for the soldier and their sacrifice, for the blessings in my life and for the group of guys I was with.  I prayed for the family of the soldier, for the safety of those serving and the end of the conflicts we are currently involved in.  These things have been constant in my prayers this week as I look to put my life back into perspective and to see the things that are truly important. 

Thank you to those who have volunteered to protect and serve our country in the past, the present and those who choose to do so in the future.  Its likely I won't ever be able to express my gratitude to each one of one of you due to distance or life circumstances, but I hope you understand how grateful I am for you.  

Blessings,

Jon