I am almost back to Utah now, been driving for about seven hours. Road trips refresh me, and stiffen my muscles. We just got out and got gas (paid for it too) and felt the last hours on my body. I am looking out the car window at the flat grassy Idaho landscape as it spreads off towards the mountains in the distance where the blue and rosy sky meets now at sunset. Behind us the angry red sun submits to the horizon setting light around which is easier on the eye. Soft.
We are making this trip to go run the Wasatch Back; a 178 mile relay race which begins in Logan and extends down to Heber before returning to Park City. It is the most beautiful race I have participated in. Twelve runners, thirty six legs, three per person, one long and short night of running. Last year there were about 300 teams and we placed fourth. Teams are started throughout the day with slower teams starting early in the morning and faster throughout the day until 5:00pm. We start then.
It is exciting to start with the fastest teams. BYU has a rockin team and there will be several others with us. I would like us to place third, we can do it. Running all night makes several things. First it makes you very tired, exhaustion after the race when your drained adrenalin levels are finally able to recover is overwhelming. I have yet to be able to stay awake on the drive back to Provo. Don’t worry, I haven’t been driving.
Second is team dynamic. Struggling and suffering together, cheering and supporting each other brings the teams together as friends never forgotten. The runners know the pain mutually felt and share in it. Unity becomes the team.
Third is appreciation for the surroundings. The hills that kill a runner give way to great horizons. Lakes, streams and rivers look beautiful while running. The term breathtaking must have been coined by a guy who had just run up a mountain and seriously was out of breath.
Other than that I have only to tell briefly of highlights from recent. I got the cops called on me. The policeman’s birthday was only one day after mine. I went to the temple several times last week. I have decided I want to get married. Sealings are wonderful and marvelous to witness and participate. I feel like I just ran up a mountain every time. More about that next time. I am getting better at my door approach. I made potato kale soup last night. No one died.
The sky is dark now with only a faint glow behind us. As we run away from the light I will leave with a final thought. Peace must be what we fight for in our homes and hearts, not just overseas.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Birthdays, New Job, Car and Restoration
It has been some time since my near death hike and I wrote last. I compare the gap in writing to thinking before speaking; I am not sure I will be successful but my experiences lately have required some processing before I judge them with a knee jerk reaction. That would be rash.
I made the trip up to Washington, Renton specifically (a suburb of Seattle) for a new job. It was a thirteen and a half hour drive I made in just under twelve; must’ve taken some shortcuts. I enjoy long distance trips, gives me some time to ponder and gain perspective, and eat lots of junk food; twizzlers are especially good. The time passed quickly. I was driving my new Honda Accord 6-cylinder. Not a bad car, not as fun as my Grand Prix GTP that my brother had already driven up to Washington, definitely gets better gas mileage though.
Our apartment here is comfortable, modern, white and sufficient for what we need. The company furnished it with some beds and some furniture. Not extravagant but adequate. It is a three bedroom two bath on the second story backed up to the green broad-leafed trees of the small wooded area behind the complex. It is nice to sit out on the mini-deck and eat a bowl of cereal while enjoying nature, birds sing, a rabbit comes out occasionally, and squirrels chase each other. As I grow I learn to appreciate nature more and more. There is a music all its own outdoors. Truly beauty is patterned after mother nature’s creations.
They say that nothing would happen if it weren’t for sales. I agree. I also would add that parallel logic would be that nothing that’s worth it comes easily. Selling is an art that I have not had to do before. Mission I never saw as selling because I knew what I was sharing was true and necessary. Sales is different because even if you have a product that is the best for what it does, and you can offer it at a discount to the customer, it still does not compare to the all encompassing importance of the gospel. Rejection is difficult and it changes your perception of how people look at you. Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness stated that day in and out he felt “undervalued and underappreciated.” So true. I think I struggle with that especially as I have been working in the Health Care field for the last four years where you care about people you serve so much and can make things right. I also consider myself good at working with people, I enjoy others and like helping. You do that in sales but from an entirely different direction. It has been and continues to stretch me like I didn’t ever expect it to.
I had a birthday on Sunday. We went out to eat at the Cheesecake factory on Saturday night, amazing food. The chicken was the most tender I have ever had and of course the cheesecake… I woke up Sunday morning and opened the door to my room and almost tripped over a big thirty pound bag of gummy bears and worms. My brother got me some presents for my birthday, the best of which was enough gummy candy to last at least two weeks. Ha, those who know me know that gummies make everything alright. I love my brother.
A good friend of mine who I have done many things with is going to be able to go to the temple again. The bishop said that the sacrament was good several months ago and now it looks like the blessings of the temple will be restored again. My feelings are deep and rich as I ponder on the paths that lead us back to God and his way. He is everlastingly there with his hand outstretched and His joy when one of his children returns is bountiful. It takes effort, steady, concerted, focused and paced to follow the steps back to His presence. I have great respect and love for those who stand up and face their weaknesses head on. The holiest war to wage is a war against a man’s own imperfections. It draws the attention of heaven and I am sure heavenly choirs rejoice to see the man struggling in the sweat, dust and tears of his failing, get up and fight against all opposition to become a more perfect person. It increases my faith in mankind to see this greatness of spirit to raise up and become more; to strive to become more holy and a higher being than before. Elevating himself while all the weight of the world pulls toward commonality. As long as we have people willing to strive to such greatness all is well in Zion.
I made the trip up to Washington, Renton specifically (a suburb of Seattle) for a new job. It was a thirteen and a half hour drive I made in just under twelve; must’ve taken some shortcuts. I enjoy long distance trips, gives me some time to ponder and gain perspective, and eat lots of junk food; twizzlers are especially good. The time passed quickly. I was driving my new Honda Accord 6-cylinder. Not a bad car, not as fun as my Grand Prix GTP that my brother had already driven up to Washington, definitely gets better gas mileage though.
Our apartment here is comfortable, modern, white and sufficient for what we need. The company furnished it with some beds and some furniture. Not extravagant but adequate. It is a three bedroom two bath on the second story backed up to the green broad-leafed trees of the small wooded area behind the complex. It is nice to sit out on the mini-deck and eat a bowl of cereal while enjoying nature, birds sing, a rabbit comes out occasionally, and squirrels chase each other. As I grow I learn to appreciate nature more and more. There is a music all its own outdoors. Truly beauty is patterned after mother nature’s creations.
They say that nothing would happen if it weren’t for sales. I agree. I also would add that parallel logic would be that nothing that’s worth it comes easily. Selling is an art that I have not had to do before. Mission I never saw as selling because I knew what I was sharing was true and necessary. Sales is different because even if you have a product that is the best for what it does, and you can offer it at a discount to the customer, it still does not compare to the all encompassing importance of the gospel. Rejection is difficult and it changes your perception of how people look at you. Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness stated that day in and out he felt “undervalued and underappreciated.” So true. I think I struggle with that especially as I have been working in the Health Care field for the last four years where you care about people you serve so much and can make things right. I also consider myself good at working with people, I enjoy others and like helping. You do that in sales but from an entirely different direction. It has been and continues to stretch me like I didn’t ever expect it to.
I had a birthday on Sunday. We went out to eat at the Cheesecake factory on Saturday night, amazing food. The chicken was the most tender I have ever had and of course the cheesecake… I woke up Sunday morning and opened the door to my room and almost tripped over a big thirty pound bag of gummy bears and worms. My brother got me some presents for my birthday, the best of which was enough gummy candy to last at least two weeks. Ha, those who know me know that gummies make everything alright. I love my brother.
A good friend of mine who I have done many things with is going to be able to go to the temple again. The bishop said that the sacrament was good several months ago and now it looks like the blessings of the temple will be restored again. My feelings are deep and rich as I ponder on the paths that lead us back to God and his way. He is everlastingly there with his hand outstretched and His joy when one of his children returns is bountiful. It takes effort, steady, concerted, focused and paced to follow the steps back to His presence. I have great respect and love for those who stand up and face their weaknesses head on. The holiest war to wage is a war against a man’s own imperfections. It draws the attention of heaven and I am sure heavenly choirs rejoice to see the man struggling in the sweat, dust and tears of his failing, get up and fight against all opposition to become a more perfect person. It increases my faith in mankind to see this greatness of spirit to raise up and become more; to strive to become more holy and a higher being than before. Elevating himself while all the weight of the world pulls toward commonality. As long as we have people willing to strive to such greatness all is well in Zion.
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