Two Words

And this time I mean it: two words.

Yesterday was a warm day about 65. Bit warm for middle of February. Gray and overcast. Really windy out of the SSE at 25 with gusts up to 40.

I went out for a nice middle length run of 6.5 miles. I have a nice out and back course laid out that runs roughly north south. Going out there is a nice downhill from about mile 2.25 to the turn around point at 3.25 miles. And with the wind from behind you can really fly down the hill.

Problem is: what goes down must come up (when you are running that is).

So yesterday I reached the turn around point and headed for home into the teeth of the wind. Uphill. Wasn't pleasant. It was a struggle. And over the last quarter mile is a 50 foot rise. I wasn't feeling real good as I neared the top.

As I neared the top of the hill there was an older guy out for a walk. He was pushing his granddaughter (at least I think it was his granddaughter, she was dressed in pink) in a stroller. And he had one of those ankle biter rat dogs on a leash. I moved off the path to give him room to get by.

I kind of croaked out my standard greeting to those I pass: "Morning." It was morning after all.

And then he said the two words. It took me a couple of seconds for them to soak through my somewhat addled brain and register.

Those words were: "Looking good".

And they were exactly what I needed to hear. They carried me through the rest of the run home. Finished strong. I am grateful for those words of encouragement even if I am fairly certain the guy is a liar.

I am certain that I would have made the run home without hearing those two words. But they sure helped even if it was to get me off of how crummy I was feeling for a bit and get me back on what I enjoy about running.

As I finished my run I thought of how often as Christians we miss opportunities to encourage each other. Too often we rejoice over other people's discomfort and problems when we should be praying for them and encouraging them. Too often we pass by someone struggling and barely notice them.

The guy on the hill didn't have to say anything. I sure didn't recognize him. He could have just given me that half head nod guys usually give each other.

But he didn't...

Foreclosure Wickedness

Recently, CBS News ran a story about foreclosures. Not really a new topic given the current economic environment.

But reporter John Blackwell took a look at wealthy people in foreclosure. These particular homeowners are people who own million dollar homes and are able to pay the mortgage yet make a "business decision" and choose not to pay what the mortgage holder.

The reporter interviewed a guy who said that his house was worth $400,000 less than what he owed and it didn't make sense for him to sink money into a bad investment even though he could afford the $10,000 monthly mortgage payment. The homeowner said that the bank could take the loss.

Banks are even more reluctant to foreclose on million dollar homes since these homes cost a lot just to keep in sale-able shape. And a foreclosed million dollar plus home brings down the values of the neighborhood. One estimate is that one in twelve homes nationwide is in foreclosure and the rate is one in seven homes valued over a million dollars.

I want to be really clear that I am not talking about the average homeowner facing foreclosure due to job loss or other reasons. And there have been plenty of reports of banks abusing the foreclosure process. A lot of people are in desperate financial situations and foreclosure is the only way out for many people. Again: I am not talking about the average person facing foreclosure today.

But these are the people who are deliberately not paying their mortgages when they are able to pay.

In Psalm 37:21 it says: "The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is gracious and giving." (Holman Christian Standard Bible). I looked at a whole bunch of translations and I couldn't find a one that was any less clear on this subject.

Borrowing and not repaying when you have the ability to repay is wickedness. There is no out for making a "bad investment". This kind of behavior is not worthy of praise, it is only worthy of condemnation.

And I don't think I would trust someone who I knew pulled this sort of stunt. In anything...

Outside Again

Yesterday the temperature hit 54. A nice day.

I haven't been able to run outside for a couple of weeks. We had a large snow storm the first of February and then last week we had a couple of inches. Large piles of snow blocked a lot of sidewalks and the trails I like to run on were covered with six or seven inches of snow.

So I have been stuck inside for my workouts. And I hate that. I have to get on the treadmill. And I really hate that. The only good part is that I get to see Jeopardy and yell at the contestants.

But there has been some good melting for the last few days and yesterday the streets were finally wide enough for me to feel semi safe running. I was able to wear shorts and get out in the sun.

It was great to get outside and run again even though there were still large piles of snow all over the place. There were a couple of bonehead drivers who cut it kind of close to me. Probably the same people who don't shovel their walks after a snow storm.

But the one thing I noticed is that I was kind of out of shape to run outside. Not out of shape, just off my form and not quite ready to run. A couple of pounds of sludge and crud seemed to have built up. It wasn't really a struggle but it wasn't a lot of fun either.

But today was much better. Felt better and ran faster even though I slept lousy last night (had to get up and talk with God about a couple of things at 135 this morning) and it was a bit colder out.

As I ran today, I realized that my relationship with God is kind of like that. If I am not daily working on that relationship, it gets off. There is kind of a build up of sludge that I have to clean out. I have to deal with those issues (lets call them what they are: my sin) that come between me and God on a daily basis.

But if I don't take the initiative and deal with that sin, it festers and slows me down, seeping into my joints and making me ineffective in my relationship with others. Its way easier to deal with it on a daily basis. The walk with Him is easier even as I grow stronger and take on greater challenges. If I am not daily working on the relationship, it makes it easier to take another day off and pretty soon I am heading in a totally different direction.

And I have to take that initiative. God is patient and waits for me to come back and confess my sins. No on else can do it for me.

Kind of like my runs...

Tourists in Egypt

As I write this the situation in Egypt is still up in the air.

Mubarak is still in power and the protests continue although there seems to be signs of protest fatigue after two weeks of protests. The protesters are growing tired.

I have watched as much of the news as I can handle. I have read as much of the newspapers and blogs coming out as I can stomach.

One image has stood out to me. About a week ago, I was watching the NBC Nightly News. The report was about how many museums and tourist attractions were closed.

Two tourists were standing outside of the pyramids. I am not sure whether or not they were Americans. I thought they spoke English with a slight accent that I couldn't quite place.

They were told that the pyramids were closed and that they should be open tomorrow. the couple expressed disappointment and said "What can you do? I guess we'll just have to come back tomorrow."

My thought as to what you can do: Get out! The country is crumbling around you and you want to see the pyramids? I realize that this could be a once in a lifetime trip, but you do not want it to be the last of your lifetime.

I guess the thing that irked me the most was that they seemed totally clueless as to what is going on around them.

And I hope that I am never that clueless...