the day before the race

tomorrow is the hers breast cancer race that i am running to raise funds for my sister. i feel good- strong, ready, energized, a little bit nervous and a lot excited.

i've been praying a lot this week about the fundraiser component of the race. i long to stand in complete surrender-

an interjection with a little story:

for christmas last year, i bought my hubby a garmin running watch. it comes complete with a foot pod, heart monitor and watch. the three pieces work together to compile the details of your running life- the heart monitor... well it monitors your heart rate silly, the watch holds your data for each run- it is more technology than i can even understand (time, rate, average heart rate/run... as i said, way more than i even understand, and the foot pod- well that little device is stinkin' amazing. it logs each step. after your run you can plug a little data stick into your computer and it uploads your run information. you can graph it, chart it, again, do way more than i even know.

i "borrowed" this little contraption from my hubby who stopped running a few weeks before christmas (and by borrowed i mean, good luck getting it back babe).

it is fascinating and unbelievably helpful. by getting a grip on my heart rate i have been able to find my "sweet spot". when i run too fast, i tire easily. but when i run at the perfect rate (easily found by looking at my wrist) i can go much longer and still feel energized. that's good stuff, right?

the foot pod is what blows my little mind. when you upload the information into your computer you can sync it with google earth. google earth then maps out your steps. seriously. you can look at a map and see exactly where each foot landed on the pavement. one foot in front of the other- but if you dodge and land a little to the right (say, to avoid some less than pleasant remainders from a four legged friend) it shows that too (the steps, not the remainders). it marks each and every step that i take. amazing.

as i have been using this run after run and uploading my stats every couple days, my head has been spinning. i've been trying to figure it all out. i've been sifting through the data and looking for ways to improve. it's mind boggling.

through this past week, i've also been doing a lot of praying about the fund raising component of all of this (as i said at the beginning). i've been asking God to show me the number that He has in mind for me to raise. i've been daily giving it to Him and asking Him to bring forth people to provide that number (whatever that number is). daily, there have been donations. it has been beautiful to see friends and strangers give so generously. i am in awe of a gracious God.

this week, i started to see a parallel between that foot pod and the God whom i love. He knows each and every step that i am to take. He knows each and every step that my sister will take. He uploaded it to google earth long before we were born. He knows. rest on that for a minute. it's mind blowing. this journey is unfolding before my eyes and before my sister's eyes day by day, but God? He knows all the "stats", all the "data", each step already. He sees her need and He's meeting it. He knows what her bills look like, what her treatment looks like, what her fear might look like, what sort of support she needs, the encouragement that will sustain her... He knows it all. already. He doesn't need it uploaded. it's already there waiting to unfold. it unfolds through you and i- the hands and feet of a Jesus that is living, real and very much full of love for each and every one of us.

i rest in that today. it makes my heart rejoice knowing that in this trial (and every trial that is to come), He knows. praise God! and in the surrender- in the giving it to Him, i can be free of worry, or fear, or doubt. the "is this enough God" is removed. and i can walk forward in faith that He has it covered.

and so this afternoon, as i prepare to run, i am thankful. if you've given this week to my sister, i am humbled by your support. if you feel led to give, please, continue to do so. you can click on the "chip in" box in the top left corner of my blog page.

my race is at 9am tomorrow (pacific time). if you could, pray for me as i run. it is sure to be hot and will be a little different than my normal running conditions. i typically run as the sun sets and the temperatures drop. tomorrow that will be in reverse.

much love and thanks,
tasha