Faith ain’t easy

How do you get from “I think” to “I believe” to “I know”?  (For my Texas friends… from “I reckon” to “I’m fixin” to “I done did it”?)  I’m talking about really big goals, like running a marathon or defeating a life-threatening disease.  For an achievement so huge, it takes a tremendous physical effort and mental focus to get there. And one more thing… it takes faith.

It’s easy to believe in something you can see, or have already experienced.  You can see and feel a glass of water on the table in front of you.  But what if someone tells you there is going to be a glass placed on your table one hour from now… How much do you trust them? How much are you willing to believe?  You don’t really “know” until it happens.

I think I can run 26 miles.  I believe I can run 26 miles.  But until I actually do it, I don’t really know it.  Until that day, I am operating on faith. 

You may be wondering why I’m taking on the Dec. 5^th California International marathon.  I’m taking it on because someone close to me is battling cancer – the treatable but not-yet-curable kind.  My older brother Jeff is facing 6 months of chemotherapy and I “believe” he will beat it into remission.  In a show of solidarity, I am training to run for 6 months so I can raise my fist in victory at the same time he raises his.  (He’s also giving me free run coaching.)

Neither of us has tangible proof that we can do either of these things.  We have not done them before.  Forget half-full or half-empty, we’ve never even seen the glass of water on the table.  What we have is faith to go on – faith in God, and faith in ourselves.  And faith ain’t easy under these circumstances.

My race is only symbolic; his is far more important.  If you want to run along with us, forward this story in email or your favorite social media channel.  And if you have a few bucks to donate to finding a cure, I would be grateful if you sponsored me in my marathon (see link below).  I WILL cross that finish line, even if I have to crawl.

As you progress from thinking to believing to doing in your own life, may your faith carry you further than you ever dreamed.  And if you find yourself struggling, find someone to run with.

Click to donate
(My goal is $100 per mile = $2600, and an amazing 93% of every dollar raised goes directly to Multiple Myeloma research!) 

Cut-and-paste this tweet-friendly blurb: 
Read David’s short story about a long race, and please pass along to your friends – http://bit.ly/99uUgY

Watch 2 minute video about MMRF founder Kathy Giusti.