Last night I had a dream that I had been given the death penalty. It was so real. In the dream I remember that I thought, "Yeah, this is only a dream, and I will wake up from this." Then another thought followed, "No, this isn't a dream. It's real. You have been given the death penalty." Like most dreams, it didn't make sense. Imagine, I had been convicted and sentenced for some error I had made on my tax. And, even more weird, I was walking around a mall waiting for the suits to get their papers organized to go on and execute me.
I thought that I won't be able to run anymore; better do it now. So, I started running in the mall among the people. That felt so good so right; yet so sad it was the last time, the last moments. I wished I had settled things more from a material standpoint for my wife, said good-bye longer and better. There seemed to be a hypersensitivity to life. Even small things had richness and meaning making me wish I had more days to live my life out better. Then I woke up.
Such a relief, almost like I had a second chance at life with a revised perspective. And there was the question: here I am in the teeth of training for Ironman Texas. Is this something I would do if I knew I was going to get the death penalty? Absolutely. Living out a passion, purpose, plan and dream, shouldn't be taken lightly. If this beats me up really bad, or I don't live through it, at least a big part of my life won't be left undone.
Such a relief, almost like I had a second chance at life with a revised perspective. And there was the question: here I am in the teeth of training for Ironman Texas. Is this something I would do if I knew I was going to get the death penalty? Absolutely. Living out a passion, purpose, plan and dream, shouldn't be taken lightly. If this beats me up really bad, or I don't live through it, at least a big part of my life won't be left undone.
The dream made me fully realize that this is life. You can't save it. You can only use it or lose it trying to hoard it. Scripture says, "Whosoever saves his life shall lose it and whosoever loses his life for My sake, shall find it."
I have prayed and prayed about this; told God that I am scared to death; told Him about all my ailments, disabilities and injuries, and even reminded Him about my advanced age. He seemed to answer, "So, you think I don't know that? Now go on and do what I have impassioned you to do."
As far as the event itself, it doesn't look good, but I know I must, at least try; to line up and get in the water anyway; risk the temptation to play it safe. If I fail, I fail at a worthwhile pursuit, doing my best, depending on God for better or worse, making God smile.
I have prayed and prayed about this; told God that I am scared to death; told Him about all my ailments, disabilities and injuries, and even reminded Him about my advanced age. He seemed to answer, "So, you think I don't know that? Now go on and do what I have impassioned you to do."
As far as the event itself, it doesn't look good, but I know I must, at least try; to line up and get in the water anyway; risk the temptation to play it safe. If I fail, I fail at a worthwhile pursuit, doing my best, depending on God for better or worse, making God smile.
PS: I did make the starting line and had a Day Unlike Any Other Day, the title of my book. Praise God!
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