horizons curving

"I may walk slowly, but I never walk backwards."
- Abe Lincoln

The last time I had a good run was in Zambia in 2011. After a soft wake up and enjoyment of some quiet meditative moments in the morning, my friend and I set out towards the fields. I think we did about 5 miles in all, just a pick-me-up before an anticipated excruciating day of working on a building construction project. It was bliss, it was perfect... and it might be all I had left in these legs.

"I have two doctors, my left leg and my right."
- G. M. Trevelyan

In 2010 I was trying out this new eating "fad"... the Paleo thing.  I was visiting my brother in Austria, and he dragged me out to go boarding for a few days in the Alps.  This eating lifestyle is actually quite extraordinary.  I found myself wrapped in boundless energy, and I took it out on the mountain.  With reckless abandon unfortunately.  The last day a storm came in.  As people were coming off, I was riding a lift solo onto a high black immersed in drafts.  I was alone, and it was peaceful. I caught an edge on a rapidly developing ice sheet.  And that ended the day.  The biff hit me in both achilles multiple times... and it took me a long desolate hour to crawl off the mountain.

The next month I climbed Pike's Peak with my other brother.  A grueling effort on snowshoes... And the next month we did the Walk of Lions fundraiser in China.  It was amazing.  I swore off the use of my achilles after that, and when I was sent to Afghanistan to win hearts and minds I did not try to rely on my calves much (my weapons against terrorism were trying to learn the Dari language and being nice to the local nationals).  I got home in early 2011, disheartened by what I saw in that place, and I flew to Africa to cheer up.  I went on that run with my friend, we helped Stan with his ministry... and I afterwards I haven't really run since.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
- Nelson Mandela

So, walking forward, I found myself going through quite a placid transformation.  It involved absorbing interesting perspectives from various people  around the world.  It involved reading, and although confirmation bias can steer one towards single-toned research material, knowledge itself is priceless... and at least opens the mind to those new concepts that provide joy to the curiosity.

"A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down."
- Robert Benchley

In 2012, about two weeks ago, we did the Walk of Lions II.  I tried to use my calves, slowly, hesitantly... at mile 16 my achilles stopped working and the pain was excruciating.  At mile 31 I stumbled past a cheering finish line and sat down for a long time.  I think really, this time, I am done for a while.

Done with running, that is.  Because two weeks ago we raised over $1,000 dollars for Stan.  And there are plenty of ways to keep spreading the word!

In the last year I've realized what trust in each other buys humanity.  It gives us drive, and it gives us solace.  It bonds us as family.  To offer friendship and not follow through is a cry of despair, of self involvement.  The ability to experience loyalty, compassion, and joy cannot be given... cannot be forced, cannot be artificial.  It has to be encouraged, by people, by societies, and eventually it comes from within.

Thanks for all who have supported the Walk of Lions, the last two weeks, the last two years.  Great chapters in the human journey project.

"Bad Gardens copy, good gardens create, great gardens transcend."
- Ken Wilber

What if the next fundraiser weren't a walk... what if it were a leap?