On the right side

Do you have any running quirks?

Like - your laces have to be tied just right - not too tight and not too loose? Or maybe that sweatband that has to be on your left wrist? Or what about the fact that nothing must jingle in your pocket, not your keys or your money for a drink? 

And it doesn't matter how much you tell yourself that it doesn't matter, you can run anyway. It does, and you can't.

Here are some more I found.

And the ones that both of you have are even worse. Because you remind each other. I'm not only talking about the places you always walk uphill, or that you can't cross the road here, because once someone hooted at that exact point and gave you such a fright.

I'm talking about sides, people. Yes. Like you always sleep on the right hand side, you always run on the left. And it has to be so. Otherwise, it's just, well wrong.

And all that to introduce the running music today. Which has nothing to do with running, or inspiration, but it's a very cool song. It's Matthew Mole. Take yours, I'll take mine. Side, that is.

Enjoy your run today. Smile. Have fun. Otherwise, don't bother.

More motivations 

Faithful as a Dandelion?

It's Sunday. Time to think and be.

I was pondering God's faithfulness this morning. The old hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is my all time favourite, and I was listening to, and thinking about the words, and wondering whether to write this post.

The story about the hymn isn't really a dramatic one. Thomas Obediah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. He wrote this:

"My income has never been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me until now. But I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, which have filled me with astonishing gratefulness."

The flower that has the meaning of faithfulness is, surprisingly to me, the dandelion. Really? That's a bit silly, isn't it? Dandelions are flighty, fall apart in your hands, gone in a breath. Not all that faithful.

   

This little yellow, pesky, pop-up-on-your-lawn delight has a meaning that is noble, enduring, and much bigger than its humble and simple appearance.

Faithfulness is simple. It is easy to explain. God's faithfulness is always there. Ours, not so much. It's not easy, but it is simple. It's the every day putting ourselves in God's way, and opening our hearts to serve His purpose. One day at a time.

In a fairly ordinary life, Thomas Obediah Chisholm discovered the "morning by morning" faithfulness of God sustained him. May we find that sustenance too. Did you know you can eat dandelions? Maybe not such a misnomer after all?

Here's the hymn.

Happy Sunday.

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Take Time

or Embrace Your Storm

Ten of the Best #72

Another week is over. Another week closer to the silly season, and another week for the disbelief to set in - what the actual frikkadel is happening in our world? The reaction to Trump is in, and there’s been aplenty. I’m not going to bore you with the loads and loads of posts, just the best I read, all here in one place.

This was what Zapiro published in May 2016.

This next article describes what broke my heart last week, and my sister, Yolanda Pierce, says it so well. So does Zapiro in his cartoon published on the day it all broke. If you click the cartoon, you'll link to the post.

Friday Books - The Steel Kiss

Well hello everyone. Friday again. We get to link up with other bloggers and share our favourite things - books.

BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday56, hosted by Freda's Voice, are where you'll find them, and the rules are easy - share the beginning and p56.

My Book this week is The Steel Kiss by Jeffery Deaver

It's Amelia Sachs and Lincoln Rhyme. Old familiar characters that I haven't read in a few years. And she finds Unsub 40 in the opening line. Only something else happens, and she doesn't. And Lincoln is retired from crime investigations. Gasp.

A letter to a friend

Dear Friend

How can I convince you that you, just the way you are, deserve love? That love that squeezes you so tight that you can't breathe with the intensity and clean pain. The love that makes you feel more alive, exhilarated, and also broken open and safe. The milk-and- honey sweet love that soothes you, softens you and satisfies you to the core.

Maybe I can start by telling you that when I see you I see an upright woman, so strong from the inside? You have always spoken up for your friends, and loved them selflessly. You’ve never let them down. You are the person people run to when they are in need.

I see that you are a giver. You want to help others. You have a list of things you need to buy for others, do for others, pray for others. You understand when they are needy, listen to their tales of woe, and place their desires before your own. They talk to you because you understand before they’ve even said the words, and they love you right back, even though they don't know how to say it the way you do.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

This book opens with a favourite quote of mine (and I do love quotes). 

"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are." BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

This leads to the unfolding of a story. Ruth is shaped by her past - her determined mother, her rebellious sister, and she becomes a labour and delivery nurse. She has worked for 30 years at her job, and something goes wrong at the hospital. Ruth is forbidden from treating a baby because of the colour of her skin. In court, Ruth is represented by Kennedy. This is Kennedy's first trial, she is used to attending arraignment hearings for the state defender.

Oh my goodness, I'd forgotten how much I love a great Jodi book.

Sun's up - just run

That's our mantra - "It doesn't matter how slowly we run, We run." And when we're done, we say "We ran, better than..." Sitting on the couch/lying in bed/pretty much anything else we would've been doing.

This morning, since we're here, isn't it good to know we can just get out and exercise? If we go today, tomorrow will be easier. And the next day and the next.

Apparently we share this little saying with Fred Lebow, creator of the NYC marathon, who believed in running, no matter how slow, and completed 69 marathons in 30 countries.

His memorial service at the finish line of the New York City Marathon attracted a crowd of 3,000 mourners, which was, at that time, the largest memorial gathering in Central Park since the death of John Lennon.

And the song, I hear you ask. Let's keep it simple - Run, by P!nk.

No, it's got nothing to do with the kind of running that we're doing this morning. It's not even all that upbeat. But it is called "Run", and I don't know why, it makes me feel safe and happy, and that's a good feeling for us this morning. Let's go and run.

More motivations....

Ten of the Best #71

What a week that was. Aren't we all so glad it's over? On with life, hopefully with some grace, love, beauty, truth. Because we all need little more of that.

This is a cheetah speed ten of the best of what I saw on my social media feeds, because I had way too much fun (and wine) last night (don't look at me like that - Trump, Leonard Cohen, no vote of no confidence in Zuma) and I'm going for a walk soon, so let's do this people.

So where do we begin?

Probably Trump. I liked this article by Steven Boykey Sidley on the election. If you click one of the many memes I saw on the topic, you'll have his perspective on why.

And here's the worst fairy tale of them all. Told by Benedict Cumberbatch.

We need to all get out the old safety pins, and spread more love than hate, tolerance over the bigotry, and stand up for what humanity should be. 

In SA too, our leader doesn't define who we are. Hasn't for years. And we're still trying to make him go. Difficult, that. America may need a few Thulis. You can't have her, you already took Trevor Noah. Here's a Dear Mr President letter by Nape Masipa. Good stuff.

Where do we go for comfort? Here are the television shows and movies we watch, apparently. Some ideas for you?

And what about some music? Don't mind if I do. Not Leonard Cohen (sob). But some amazing grace. And beauty.

A little humour - Don't make fun of renowned author Dan Brown...

This is beautiful. And it's nature. And Julia Roberts and her friends. Feeling better yet?

I loved this recitation of The Journey, by David Whyte.

Anybody else agree with me that Emma Watson is the perfect Belle? Take a look at these pics from the Beauty and the Beast movie to be released next year.

Thats our ten. Have an awesome weekend. See you here next week.

Want some more? Here's last week.

And some older posts.

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Friday Book Share - Small Great Things

It's the Friday Book Share Game to help search for that ideal novel/author, created by Shelley Wilson.

Anyone can have a go – all you need to do is answer the questions based on a book you enjoyed reading and use the hashtag #FridayBookShare

First line of the book.

The miracle happened on West Seventy-fourth Street in the home where Mama worked.

Friday Books - Small Great Things

It's Friday already. Nearly the weekend. And perhaps I'll get some reading done?

Friday also means we get to link up with other bloggers and share our favourite things - books.

BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday56, hosted by Freda's Voice, are where you'll find them, and the rules are easy - share the beginning and p56.

My Book this week is Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

I love this opening scene. When you're a child, you can't tell if you got the nightmares because of the gargoyles, or whether the gargoyles were in your nightmares, and then appeared on the house. I remember that kind of terrified.