Here I sit, watching all the coverage of the explosions that occurred at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, so many thoughts going through my head. I will probably be a little disjointed, and I apologize, but I thought I would just type to help with the emotions.
A day that supposed to be such joy for runners, since it is such an accomplishment just to be able to participate in the Boston Marathon, turns into a cruel horrible situation. This is such a tragedy to our favorite past time. So many innocent runners and spectators killed and injured by unknown cruel and hateful individuals. We just go out and run (training and racing) focused on a sport that helps us take our minds away from the world. We do it to relax, we do it to take in nature, we do it to improve our health to live a long and healthy life.
Today, the running world changed. Because of these unknown cruel individuals our running lives will change. Like 9/11 our thoughts about things of this world will change. Things like – the person I am running up on while training, looking out for things that may harm us instead of taking in God’s beautiful creation, and the list goes on. Races will now be more security focused in a good way, but change the norm for our normal race day preparation.
Things changed again for us today….
I want to take this opportunity to ask you to pray for the families of those that lost their lives today. Pray for the injured and their families. Pray for all the security, medical, and fire response individuals as they are scarred from the harms caused today. Finally, I pray that not one runner or spectator turns from this great sport because of the acts of these cruel hateful individuals.
Thank you to all those who helped today. Many showed up to help with cramps, muscle soreness, aches and pains of a marathon. They left tonight as heroes in many of our eyes.
Friends, we live in a cruel world theses days. As my pastor said just yesterday in his sermon, “This world is not going to hell in a hand basket, we are there now!” Our time is short friends. Take every opportunity you are given. Love your family, love your friends, love your pets! Don’t hate, it isn’t worth it! Better the world! If you don’t go to church, or are not a Christian consider it today. Don’t let some unknown tragedy like today snap your life forever!
Here are a few verses from the Bible I will leave you with to reflect on:
GOD
Revelation 4:8b – Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
TRUST
Acts 16:31 – They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.:
CROSS
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
MAN
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To sum it all up:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our signs according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Thanks for reading and understanding….Be safe out there and look out for each other!
Love this. You are right, our sport changed today. Races will have more security- I was telling my mom on the phone that whoever did this wasn’t stupid, I have never been at a race with metal detectors or wands but if you go to a ball game they have those things, etc. Plus of course everyone checks a bag or has a backpack, etc.
And like you said, perhaps the worst thing is that now, instead of focusing on God’s creation and the beauty around us… we have to focus on being safe. We have to do what Pre said never to do and look back…
Thanks! Well said yourself!
Thank you David.
Thank you!
You are so absolutely right David. As I sit here and read your thoughts with tears in my eyes, our world has changed. And Sonny was right on target yesterday with his sermon. This is such a sad sad occurrence in our world that is going to shambles.
Thanks for comments Nicole & your support! This just tore me up today, especially when they reported one of the deaths was an 8 year old kid. Unacceptable! So innocent! Life cut too short far too soon!
I too was very overcome with emotion as I saw the news break regarding the Boston Marathon. I teared up just thinking of the hours of training the participants had put in to get to where they were, the dreams every runner there had of completing one of the world’s most popular marathons, and the loved ones who were gathered there at the sweet finish to see these dreams turn to reality. As a fellow runner, I was just aching over this needless tragedy. It was amazing to see the good in people from those that immediately volunteered to help the wounded, to the runners who kept on running to the nearest hospital to donate blood, to those who opened up their homes for strangers. So many heroes emerged in the midst of a tragedy. I do hope that the 10,000 or so runners who had to finish before mile 25 and re-route to Boston Common were able to also receive their medals. It was certainly a medal of honor on such a horrific day. My prayers are being lifted up for the families and victims.
Thanks for your thoughts Tara!