First steps to wholeness

I've been running and jogging for about five years and my husband is currently in the process of learning to run with the help of the online resource, Couch to 5k. This is the same program I used four years ago. What's interesting about our running is that we are not what some might think as prime candidates for the sport. We are sturdy folks. However, running has proved to be a help for both of us to reach healthier fitness goals.

If it helped us in this way, why couldn't help others too?

Here's a photo of me finishing my first 5k August of 2008:

Summer 2009 I heard the founder of Back on my feet speak to over 30,000 youth at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Anne Mahlum took action on an idea to using running as a practical tool to fight homelessness and addiction and it's now become her life's work.

First Covenant Church, Zion Covenant, and First Lutheran of Jamestown (where I work) have a combined mission called, First House. It's a home for men working through various addiction problems. This program is fashioned to help people in recovery set up healthy priorities for life with the help of God.

A light bulb went off for me when I remembered "Back on my feet" and I went running downtown this week. Could a running program be a needed mission to help the men in the house? Could a running group help our congregations have a greater presence in the community? Could a group like this help all of us build a greater sense of community as well as becoming more physically active?

I'm not sure where this light bulb is headed, but I'll keep you posted. If you are in the Jamestown area, like running and would like to take part in a group working towards wholeness and healing - drop me a line @ eastman_tara@yahoo.com or simply leave a comment.

Philippians 3 12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Happy trails!
T

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Uphill idealist

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