This Pondering Heart

I finished a marathon. 26.2 miles of running. It was hard (understatement of the year). But the journey, the people who got me through (and to t he starting line in the first place) made it more than just a run. ---- When my childhood bestie asked me to do a marathon with her, without hesitation I said yes. For those of you who don’t know Maria Timm, I’ll just say she’s persistent. She’s been asking me to run 26.2 (fun) miles with her for a couple of years. She talked me into 13.1, but I was convinced I’d never run the full sha-bang. But for some reason this time when she asked, I easily agreed. I like to believe it was God’s way of taking care of future me. His way of nudging and proving that, “with Him, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). I couldn’t yet know the deep hurt, the gnawing ache, the consuming restlessness I would feel as my sunshiny summer came to a jolting hault. But He did. He knew how meaningful this ra

One of the best parts of being human is the ability to feel. The range of emotions we’re capable of experiencing is such a beautiful gift from God. But in order to feel the extremes of some (or all) of these emotions, we’re called to fully embrace life and the opportunities we’re given. As an introvert, I haven’t always been the best with diving head first into anything new or unfamiliar. I’ve been okay playing the spunky sidekick best friend as I’ve lived vicariously through many of my pals’ relationships. I never minded handing over the box of tissues after a breakup or giving hugs (and lots of validation) after enduring a long argument with a significant other. But even as I watched comfortably from the sidelines (admittedly sometimes enviously), I knew my time would come. -------- As I’ve grown up and discovered more of who I am, I'm more mindful of what type of person I want to end up with. No, I don’t have a specific list (tall, dreamy eyes and a huge hea