Why I Run

Yesterday I ran my first half marathon. I did it! My time was SLOW but I felt amazing the entire time and flew through the final 4 miles. It was a surreal and supernatural day. The entire week was emotional for me. I was super teary and tender as I considered who I was running for and how much these past 5 months have transformed me.

Yesterday began at 4am, which was really 3am with daylight savings time (who decided this? I want to send them an email.). After a shuttle and bus ride, we arrived at Dodger stadium at 6am. Immediately we entered the Stadium. We had exclusive access inside the Stadium for our Team World Vision pep rally. Over 500 runners were on the team this year! Again, surreal. By 7:25 the gun went off ... and we stood there among the throngs of people waiting for our turn to cross the start line. It was an incredible day. I ran with over 65 runners from Newsong and together we've raised nearly $50,000 for clean water wells in Malawi. Our church has been partnering there for over 5 years. We LOVE our community in Malawi and I know first-hand how transformative clean water is to a community. Team World Vision raised over $700,000 for clean water wells throughout Africa!!!!! CELEBRATE!

One of the most humbling surprises in this journey is that I had the distinct privilege and honor of sharing my story at the Team World Vision dinner. Hundreds of runners gathered the night before the race and my story was a part of the time together. This is my story (in 3 1/2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-bgiDZIqI&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share

Don't want to miss out on donating? Clean water matters a whole bunch. You can give (tax-deductible) HERE.

The best is yet to come. And, YES, I'm running again.

Trayvon Martin and Judah Diaz.

I'm sitting in Panera getting a ton of work done today and stumbled upon Jen Hatmaker's blog post about Travyon Martin. I'm sitting here among the lunch rush stuffing tears and noisy sobbing.

I don't know that I can articulate words right now, so instead I'll beg and plead you to read Jen's post entitled: "Dear Trayvon's Mom".

READ HERE and NOW!

Color Matters

I love the color of my children's skin. I love that their skin is different than mine and their daddy's. I cannot get over how smooth and rich and dark it is. I love the contrast between my hands and their hands.

I love how their hands and faces and bellies speak to their culture and their history. Their skin declares, "I am Ethiopian! I was born in Africa!" Their chocolate color speaks of a creative God with a colorful palette who wanted us to celebrate the uniqueness of our cultures, races, and countries of origin. Their color speaks of their identity and from where they were called.

Sometimes I just stare at my kids and feel almost worshipful at how gorgeous they are and how different we look from each other. That God would take such care and consideration in the formation of even our skin...WOW! That is one attentive Maker.

Some would say that they are color blind, that they don't see color of skin but only the heart of the person beneath the skin. Some inter-racial families would say that skin color or birth country doesn't matter because "my kids are my kids" and "I love them the same as if they shared my DNA".

But I think we miss so much of the person and the Creator when we disregard someone's skin color and make them just like everyone else. Being Ethiopian doesn't define my kids, but it is a meaningful and significant part of their identity. Being black isn't the summation of who they are but it is a piece of what makes them an individual connected to a people and a part of the world that's "beautifully and wonderfully made".

The truth is that color does matter in this world. It's a source of massive conflict, stereotypes, stigmas, bigotry in families and nations. Color may not matter to the majority race, but it matters to the minority. Color matters when you're the only one in the room who looks different from the others. It matters to the ones who have jokes made about them or suffocating stereotypes associated with them. It matters to a person who loves their heritage and celebrates their culture.

And I believe with my whole heart that it matters to a God who took pride in creating the spectrum of our skin colors. So instead of ignoring or minimizing each others color, 

• what if we took time and care to get to know what that color represents and means to that person? 
• and what if appreciating each others differences was an act of worship to God? 
• and what if as we honor every part of each other we also help heal the world of some bigotry and hurtful stereotypes?

What if...?