Thursday, October 17, 2013

October Workout



This morning
I reinvented
the runner inside
it was fall everywhere
leaves everywhere on Buehler’s trail

but it was almost shirts off weather
high, 60s and humid
the kind of perfectibility that the Piedmont produces in October
an array of leaves softening the trail beneath

I warmed up
down around the fitness loop
thought
I should run my K’s here

but I want the track
for pop and speed—precision

I’ve not worked out in some weeks and I seek a measuring rod
where am I really
not
where would I like to be
or where should I be
no 
who am I
today 
as runner

Results were fair, but the morning was perfect
And some perfect
must always be enough

Thursday, October 10, 2013

I continue to be so proud and thankful to serve in this town



I was at American Tobacco this morning speaking to 11th graders from Voyageur Academy about what it means to start something–in this case the Tobacco Trail Church. First, I did not start a thing. I just caught up to what God was already doing, or better, I hang on the end of the kite and try not to get rope/string burn.

ATstockphoto
Read about church planting within the Kingdom of God.


MonkatMile.25photobyFranklinGolden

I love you Durham and I love you ATT

Voices from Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73

This music by Beethoven inspired the poem, "Voices," which can be found in the collection, Border Ways, available at BN.com and Amazon.com.



Voices

Wind blows
Sun shines
And a woman yells harshly
Emphatically
To someone on the other end of digitized audio waves
The scene is out of concert
Because the day preaches coolness, calmness, serenity
Who needs such a harsh talking to?
I’m glad it’s not me
Though I could probably use one
Run faster
Parent better
Work harder
Write with greater clarity

She is calming and walking nearer
Smiling to the person on the other end, though he can’t see the smile
Perhaps he can hear it somehow, in the turn of a word
Serenity overcomes me as it has already done on this bright day
by hearing that best part of
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73
Listen to it and choose your best part
I discovered it again for the first time
In a theater watching a stammerer find his voice
And though afraid of falling on his words into empty space
He went anyway and spoke into the mic
Found his voice and the heart of a nation
You too have a voice
Somewhere there is an audience
That needs your story