My brother used to teach his children to avoid offensive words by saying; “Don’t say bad words.”  They would often chuckle, while quickly offering the verbal response, “bad words” to his prompt.  Our “bad words” can cause great damage.  That is why God instructs us to “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”  Psalm 34:13. I remember it clearly.  This event happened 30 years ago, but still is clear in my mind.  Unfortunately, it is one of my life actions that I wish I could take back and redo.  

​All the race fans were on the left side of a divided highway, with two lanes going in each direction. On the same side as the fans, runners were still making their way out.  I was on the far right side, still walking, having given up running a couple miles back after my vision went blurry and my body had been depleted. In between, was a water station offering cups of water to runners going in either direction.  Suddenly, on the left side, a short man, with dark hair came out of the crowd and crossed the road to where I was and began walking beside me.  I didn’t know who this man was, but he challenged me to begin running again.  

​A brisk November morning greeted us. My wife,Tracy, and I stepped out of our hotel into the streets of Philadelphia.   A rather restless night of anticipation had led me to this point of pre-race anticipation and we jogged to the starting area at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which has the steps where “Rocky” runs up during his training (you’ll know if you are a Rocky movie fan).  I was about to line up with 5,000 other runners at the start of a 26.2 mile race, my first marathon.  I was pumped!

 ​“Jesus answered, “It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  Matthew 4:4
 
             I did not see it coming. It is not something that really is all that significant and I don’t stress over it, but it just kind of happened sometime over the last year. I think.  I am not one to pay much attention to my weight as I have not really gained much since my high school days. I do attempt to maintain my health by moderate exercise.  I know that I am fortunate to be able to claim that my weight has been somewhat stable since high school and that is why I don’t want to make a big deal about this but for the first time in my life, I noticed that increased eating has affected my weight!  You might be thinking …. welcome to reality buddy!