Running for the Kingdom For a little over a month now I have been running, so far I have logged 72 miles. During these runs I always find myself praying, without fail it always happens. I also can’t help but to contemplate the similarities between running and the spiritual journey that we are all on. During all of this I have also been drawn to the philosophy of one particular runner, Steve Prefontaine or just “Pre.” Steve was not a theologian, he surely wasn’t a saint, I don’t know if he even believed in God. But surprisingly, something else Pre didn’t believe in was natural “talent.” Steve believed that every person who had a body, also had the potential to become a great athlete. He believed that to fulfill this potential that body had to go hard all the time. From the begging of a race to the end. I think Steve would agree that it would be dishonorable to hold back during the beginning of a race so that one could finish strong. I think that this philosophy is the foundation of Saintly Theology. I believe that every person who has a Soul, has the potential to be a Saint. Just to be clear when I say Saint I am speaking of holiness. This is the race that every human is on, whether or not they recognize it. And the temptation that is laid before us in this race is to try and pace ourselves so we reach the goal even if it is just by a small margin. It is easy to say “Well I will follow Christ tomorrow”, or “I will give a little to Christ today but I can’t give him everything.” “I will live a ‘good’ life and most likely I will be with God for eternity, but I don’t need to be a Saint, right?” Wrong! We have to set a suicide pace, from begining to end. This forces us to die to ourselves and to rely solely on Christ. This is the only way to become a Saint, right? To become truly pure and Holy we have to give everything we have to Christ, holding nothing back, as soon as the choice is made to be His disciple. I have started running this race towards the Kingdom, and I have always held something back. This must change! I am training myself and learning how to give my all to Him. I desire nothing more than to become one of His beloved Saints. I know He will carry me to the finishline, but I have to give him my best with every step. One last thought. What Steve’s opponents hated most about him was that by setting an extremely fast pace at the beginning of a race all the other runners were literally forced to increase their own pace if they wanted any chance at winning. When each of us makes that commitment not only to run the spiritual race towards God, but also to run it at that “suicide pace” from beginning to end, it is inevitable that other runners will begin to run with us and more Saints will undoubtedly be born. God, please give us the grace needed to become Saints. Amen. “The best pace is a suicide pace, and today seems like a good day to die.” ~ Steve Prefontaine

Running for the Kingdom

For a little over a month now I have been running, so far I have logged 72 miles. During these runs I always find myself praying, without fail it always happens. I also can’t help but to contemplate the similarities between running and the spiritual journey that we are all on.

During all of this I have also been drawn to the philosophy of one particular runner, Steve Prefontaine or just “Pre.” Steve was not a theologian, he surely wasn’t a saint, I don’t know if he even believed in God. But surprisingly, something else Pre didn’t believe in was natural “talent.” Steve believed that every person who had a body, also had the potential to become a great athlete. He believed that to fulfill this potential that body had to go hard all the time. From the begging of a race to the end. I think Steve would agree that it would be dishonorable to hold back during the beginning of a race so that one could finish strong. I think that this philosophy is the foundation of Saintly Theology.

I believe that every person who has a Soul, has the potential to be a Saint. Just to be clear when I say Saint I am speaking of holiness. This is the race that every human is on, whether or not they recognize it. And the temptation that is laid before us in this race is to try and pace ourselves so we reach the goal even if it is just by a small margin. It is easy to say “Well I will follow Christ tomorrow”, or “I will give a little to Christ today but I can’t give him everything.” “I will live a ‘good’ life and most likely I will be with God for eternity, but I don’t need to be a Saint, right?” Wrong! We have to set a suicide pace, from begining to end. This forces us to die to ourselves and to rely solely on Christ. This is the only way to become a Saint, right? To become truly pure and Holy we have to give everything we have to Christ, holding nothing back, as soon as the choice is made to be His disciple.

I have started running this race towards the Kingdom, and I have always held something back. This must change! I am training myself and learning how to give my all to Him. I desire nothing more than to become one of His beloved Saints. I know He will carry me to the finishline, but I have to give him my best with every step.

One last thought. What Steve’s opponents hated most about him was that by setting an extremely fast pace at the beginning of a race all the other runners were literally forced to increase their own pace if they wanted any chance at winning. When each of us makes that commitment not only to run the spiritual race towards God, but also to run it at that “suicide pace” from beginning to end, it is inevitable that other runners will begin to run with us and more Saints will undoubtedly be born.

God, please give us the grace needed to become Saints. Amen.

“The best pace is a suicide pace, and today seems like a good day to die.” ~ Steve Prefontaine

10 months ago
Our Desert Place As you read this please don’t be to critical; my soul is still immature but striving to grow in His light.  While running today I looked down and saw that I was about to run through a pile of sand and dirt, and that lead me back to “Our Desert Place” Desert Run; Part 1 the Past In Our Desert Place, Our Lord said to me “See that mountain top in the distance?” “Yes.” “That is where you need to run too.  As long as you stay focused on me I will make sure you reach the summit, and We will be there, and you will be perfected.” Then He proceeded to give me communion, and told me to “Go now.” and He was no longer in front of me.  But His Spirit was with me and I knew that he was at the top of the mountain and I could hear Him calling me and urging me on.  As I began to run I looked back and could see the path in which I had traveled.  I could see those spots where I strayed off of the path, and the run became difficult.  Also, at regular intervals along the path were stations like at a marathons where people are handing water and energy bars to runners, but instead I recognized my friends the Saints at the stations and they were calling to me and encouraging me to take and eat of the Eucharist and drink from the Chalice.  More often then not I realized that I had ignored the Saints urging and would run past multiple of these same stations before I would finally allow myself to eat and drink of His Body and Blood so that I could be nourished and refreshed.  When looking at the path which I have already taken to get to this part of my run, there is also another constant, my mother Mary.  She was always cheering me on and trying to get my attention.  So enthusiastic is she that she is jumping up and down and screaming at times.  LOL, I was so embarrassed at times to be associated with her, but now I can see her love and devotion, and I am honored to have her as my Mother.  As I finished my run today and I reflected on this imagery that I had received.  I feel like God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Angels and Saints, and Mary are all encouraging me to take part in the Eucharist more frequently.  It is through the nourishment of His Body and Blood, that I will reach that summit, and it is the only way!  I am committed to reaching the summit, and thus I must be committed to finding a way to receive Holy Communion more frequently.  In sin I have been limited, In Jesus I have been liberated… In Him, through Him, and with Him, anything is possible… I am without limits. 

Our Desert Place

As you read this please don’t be to critical; my soul is still immature but striving to grow in His light. 

While running today I looked down and saw that I was about to run through a pile of sand and dirt, and that lead me back to “Our Desert Place”

Desert Run; Part 1 the Past

In Our Desert Place, Our Lord said to me “See that mountain top in the distance?”

“Yes.”

“That is where you need to run too.  As long as you stay focused on me I will make sure you reach the summit, and We will be there, and you will be perfected.”

Then He proceeded to give me communion, and told me to “Go now.” and He was no longer in front of me.  But His Spirit was with me and I knew that he was at the top of the mountain and I could hear Him calling me and urging me on. 

As I began to run I looked back and could see the path in which I had traveled.  I could see those spots where I strayed off of the path, and the run became difficult.  Also, at regular intervals along the path were stations like at a marathons where people are handing water and energy bars to runners, but instead I recognized my friends the Saints at the stations and they were calling to me and encouraging me to take and eat of the Eucharist and drink from the Chalice.  More often then not I realized that I had ignored the Saints urging and would run past multiple of these same stations before I would finally allow myself to eat and drink of His Body and Blood so that I could be nourished and refreshed.  When looking at the path which I have already taken to get to this part of my run, there is also another constant, my mother Mary.  She was always cheering me on and trying to get my attention.  So enthusiastic is she that she is jumping up and down and screaming at times.  LOL, I was so embarrassed at times to be associated with her, but now I can see her love and devotion, and I am honored to have her as my Mother. 

As I finished my run today and I reflected on this imagery that I had received.  I feel like God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Angels and Saints, and Mary are all encouraging me to take part in the Eucharist more frequently.  It is through the nourishment of His Body and Blood, that I will reach that summit, and it is the only way!  I am committed to reaching the summit, and thus I must be committed to finding a way to receive Holy Communion more frequently. 

In sin I have been limited, In Jesus I have been liberated… In Him, through Him, and with Him, anything is possible… I am without limits. 

10 months ago
”

There is no other virtue that is either higher or more necessary than sacred Prayer, because all the other virtues—I mean fasting, vigils, sleeping on the ground, ascesis, chastity, almsgiving, and all the rest—even though they are ways of imitating God, even though they cannot be taken away from us and constitute the immortal ornaments of the soul—do not united man with God, but only render man fit to be united. Sacred Prayer, and it alone, unites. It alone joins man with God and God with man, and makes the two one spirit.


~ Nikodemos (Nicodemus) the Hagiorite (of the Holy Mountain)
10 months ago
“The way Jesus shows you is not easy.  Rather, it is like a path winding up a mountain.  Do not lose heart!  The steeper the road, the faster it raises towards ever-wider horizons.”  ~ Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day XI How easy it is to get discouraged because the road gets to difficult.  Having a real relationship with Jesus is the only way to reach the heights.  It is by His grace that we are given the strength to keep striving for perfection.  But we have to know Him, we have to Love Him, and most importantly we always must be walking with Him.  Otherwise, our legs will give out and we won’t be able to progress towards the Father. 

“The way Jesus shows you is not easy.  Rather, it is like a path winding up a mountain.  Do not lose heart!  The steeper the road, the faster it raises towards ever-wider horizons.” 

~ Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day XI

How easy it is to get discouraged because the road gets to difficult.  Having a real relationship with Jesus is the only way to reach the heights.  It is by His grace that we are given the strength to keep striving for perfection.  But we have to know Him, we have to Love Him, and most importantly we always must be walking with Him.  Otherwise, our legs will give out and we won’t be able to progress towards the Father. 

10 months ago
”

Just beg for me the courage and endurance not only to speak but also to will what is right,
so that I may not only be called a Christian, but prove to be one.

St. Ignatius of Antioch
11 months ago
“Love our Lady.  And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle.  And the enemy will gain nothing by those perversities that seem to boil up continually within you, trying to engulf in their fragrant corruption the high ideals, those sublime commands that Christ Himself has placed in your hear.”  “Serviam!” — “I will serve!” ~ Josemaria Escriva

“Love our Lady.  And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle.  And the enemy will gain nothing by those perversities that seem to boil up continually within you, trying to engulf in their fragrant corruption the high ideals, those sublime commands that Christ Himself has placed in your hear.” 

“Serviam!” — “I will serve!”

~ Josemaria Escriva

11 months ago
Our Desert Place My Lord said to me, “Today and everyday you must let yourself die.”  He continued to explain to me and show me that, moving forward in our spiritual journey isn’t so much an active pursuit, but rather a lack of animation.  It is not “I” who must act, but rather, I must let myself be acted upon.  I must die to myself, and let Him breath new life into me.  In this way I have the potential to be perfected. 

Our Desert Place

My Lord said to me, “Today and everyday you must let yourself die.” 

He continued to explain to me and show me that, moving forward in our spiritual journey isn’t so much an active pursuit, but rather a lack of animation.  It is not “I” who must act, but rather, I must let myself be acted upon.  I must die to myself, and let Him breath new life into me.  In this way I have the potential to be perfected. 

11 months ago
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” ~ Steve Prefontaine

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” ~ Steve Prefontaine

11 months ago
snaps4hollywood: emsantidade: JPII ♥ HOW DOES THIS NOT HAVE MORE NOTES

snaps4hollywood:

emsantidade:

JPII ♥

HOW DOES THIS NOT HAVE MORE NOTES

(via heartallonfire)

11 months ago
Our Desert Place In our desert place, His words are like cool water, refreshing a dry and parched throat, while also bringing new life into an exhausted soul.  His Love and Mercy provide the shade that protects from the brutal sun.  It is only Jesus who can give me eternal life.

Our Desert Place


In our desert place, His words are like cool water, refreshing a dry and parched throat, while also bringing new life into an exhausted soul.  His Love and Mercy provide the shade that protects from the brutal sun.  It is only Jesus who can give me eternal life.

11 months ago