5 Things I Learned By Climbing 1,088 Steps

On Saturday morning, I tried something new – something crazy – something adventurous.  I participated in the Fight for Air Climb in Philadelphia, PA.  The Fight for Air Climb is a 50 floor (1,088 step) stair climb from the street level of Three Logan to the top.  The event raises money for the American Lung Association.  After climbing to the top, I felt like I might need a new lung.

Here’s what I learned during this crazy experience:

1. The climb is not completed all at once.  It’s not like taking the elevator to the top.  It took me just under ten minutes to complete the stair climb.  Ten minutes may seem like a short time, but it seemed like an eternity when my legs and lungs were burning twenty floors into the climb.  We live in a culture where we expect immediate gratification.  Life is hard work.  It takes effort and time.
2. The climb is completed one step at a time.  I’m nearly six feet six inches.  For a short period of time, I can skip three steps at a time.  This is not sustainable for most people.  The first several floors, I skipped every other step.  With a little more training, I may have been able to keep this up for most of the climb.  In reality, I had to go one step at a time.  If I missed too many steps, I would lose my balance and rhythm, and I would begin to slow down.  In life, it’s important to proceed one step at a time.  When we skip steps, we miss out on key details required to complete the overall journey.
3. The climb requires focus and determination.  While I was climbing up the stairwell, I had to keep remembering that the end would eventually arrive.  Without this focus, it would have been easy to give up.  I could have stopped on the tenth, twentieth, thirtieth, or fortieth floors where race volunteers were offering water to the climbers.  I knew it was important to keep moving.  I had to stay focused on the end at floor fifty.  Life can be pretty challenging.  In the middle of life’s ups and downs, we can lose heart and give up if we don’t keep our eyes on the prize.
4. The climb is better in community.  I was part of a team in the Fight for Air Climb.  We joined together to raise funds as a whole, and we started together at the bottom and finished together at the top.  Actually, we started in fifteen second intervals.  Two of my team members were in front of me, and two of my teammates were behind me.  As formal Climb participants, my teammates gave me valuable tips on how to go about my climb.  When I made it to the top, they cheered me on and supported me as my lungs and legs recovered.  We need people in our lives who will cheer us on and who will give us tips for how to handle life.  We might be able to go about things alone for a little while, but life is so much better in community.
5. The climb is temporary.  My legs felt like jello, and my lungs felt like fire while I was completing this “adventure.”  But it was only temporary.  After the climb was complete, I caught my breath.  I took the elevator back down to the street, and I headed over to the post climb party with my teammates.  Soon I was talking about doing it again next year.  We all go through challenges.  Some challenges last longer than others.  If we follow Christ, we have the promise of a future.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that things will be easy in this life, but things will get better.

This is an experience I won’t soon forget.  The climb left me with a new appreciation for people with lung problems.  It also gave me great respect for first responders who climb up skyscrapers with eighty pounds of gear to help rescue those in need.  I’m thankful for another stretching experience.

Have you ever climbed a lot of stairs?  How many steps have you climbed this week?  What did you learn along the way?

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I’d Rather Have A Root Canal (10 Things Worse Than A Root Canal)

Yesterday, I had my first root canal.  I’ve heard mixed things about this whole procedure.  We’ll see how my recovery goes, but so far it hasn’t been as bad as I might have expected.  It’s amazing what they can do with some Novocaine and a bunch of drills.

As a fun way to commemorate my first root canal experience, I thought it would be “fun” to list a few things that  are worse than having a root canal procedure.

Here’s my Top 10 list of “fun” things worse than having a root canal:

1. Going shopping at the mall on Black Friday – I made it to a grocery store and the Goodwill store this Black Friday.  I can’t imagine subjecting myself to the swarms of mad shoppers looking for deals and big televisions and socks.
2. Colonoscopy – I haven’t had one yet, but it doesn’t sound like fun.
3. Sit through another round of negative presidential campaign advertisements – Don’t get me wrong here.  I’m thankful for the right and privilege to vote, and I’m glad we get to select a new president or re-elect a president every four years, but the negative campaign ads drive me nuts.
4. Cleaning up dog diarrhea all over the living room carpet – Yep.  I’ve done this before.  Trust me it was not fun.
5. Throwing up – I don’t like to throw up.  Cleaning up someone’s puke is also not high on my list.
6. Listening to John Madden – Okay, so I’m exaggerating a bit here, but you have to admit.  His announcing skills could use some refining.
7. Sitting through a Roger & Me movie marathon – I watched Roger & Me with some buddies when I was in high school.  Was it just me or was this a dumb movie for teenagers to be watching on a free Friday night?
8. Migraine headaches – I’ve had more than my fair share of migraines this past year.  It’s been getting better, but I still can’t stand them.
9. Watching the Yankees win another World Series – This one’s for my buddy, Dan Reischel.  I’m sorry, but I’m tired of seeing the Yankees win.  Let’s go Phillies!
10. Paying for a root canal – I don’t know how much the crown will cost yet, but the root canal procedure itself wasn’t cheap (even after insurance).

What do you think?  Have you ever had a root canal?  What would you add to the list?

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Program

Last night, our H.O.P.E. group was supposed to be serving at The Good Samaritan Shelter in Phoenixville, PA.  We were scheduled to paint and clean a couple of rooms at the shelter with our group which typically meets twice a month to serve other people.  It didn’t happen though.

In the middle of the day, we received news that the shelter was closing their offices early due to the inclement weather.  We received a few inches of wet snow yesterday which doesn’t sound like a lot for those in the some parts of the country.  For some reason, the first significant snow fall put everyone in our area on high alert.

And so our regularly scheduled program was interrupted.  The interruption came with mixed feelings.  My wife and I were a little sad, because we had a big group scheduled to help out.  We were excited to have our whole H.O.P.E. group along with a few guests lined up to put a dent in the shelter.  It’s challenging to reschedule activities like this, so cancelling this event brings an unknown as to when we’ll be able to serve again with this ministry.

On the other hand, our family has an extremely busy schedule this week with activities scheduled for each evening.  The break last night was somewhat of a blessing as it gave us the opportunity to be at home for the evening.  We were able to eat together, read, and relax after a busy day of work and school.

Sometimes an interruption can be a good thing.  I don’t normally handle interruption all that well.  I don’t like change, and I don’t like it when my schedule or routine is compromised.  So what can I learn from last night’s interruption?

1. Interruptions happen.  It’s a fact of life. You and I need to get used to the fact that things come up that will interrupt our lives.
2. Embrace the interruption.  Sometimes an interruption can be just what we need to get us realigned.  Besides, pouting and grumbling over the impact of an interruption is a waste of energy.  My kids enjoyed the opportunity to play in the snow.  Perhaps, this was their way of embracing the interruption.
3. Evaluate your interrupted activity.  What was I doing when I was interrupted?  What part of my schedule was interrupted?  Do I need to return to that activity, program, conversation, etc.?  Or do I need to move on?  I hope that we can reschedule this H.O.P.E. serving opportunity, but it will be important for us to evaluate how this fits into the schedule for our group and for our family.
4. Expect interruption.  Interruptions are a good reminder that we need to build in margins into our schedules and into our lives.  Margins give us space to breath, to think, and to react to life’s interruptions.
5. Be considerate when you interrupt and when you are interrupted.  It’s going to happen.  You will need to interrupt someone else and their regularly scheduled program, and you will be interrupted by someone else who really needs your attention.  Learn to respect other people.  Respond in grace.  Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
6. Trust God when your life is interrupted.  Sometimes interruptions can be far more than an inconvenience.  Sometimes an interruption can be like shoving a stick in the spokes of a moving bicycle.  Maybe it’s a health crisis, a job loss, or a death of a loved one.  These kinds of interruptions can rock our worlds.  In times like these, we need to remember to trust God.  He may be the only thing we can hang onto when an interruption shatters our lives.

When was the last time your schedule was interrupted?  How was this interruption a good thing?  How has interruption in your life STRETCHED you?

How Can I Do Better? – Reflections From A Parent/Teacher Conference

Last night, we attended a parent/teacher conference for our son.  As a middle school student, Isaac also had the opportunity to participate in the conference as well.  Isaac had just finished up his first marking period of seventh grade.  He did remarkably well (proud Dad moment) achieving straight A’s.

The conferences were optional yet we decided to scheduled a meeting with his core teachers.  For Leanne and I, it was an opportunity to listen to additional feedback – to hear where Isaac is excelling and to her where Isaac could grow or improve.  Naturally, the feedback from his teachers was all great to hear.  And at the end of the conference, they provided an opportunity for us to ask questions.

Isaac asked his teachers this question, “How can I do better?”

This is a pretty powerful question if you’re serious about getting a true response.  Just because we did “well” doesn’t mean we can’t get better.  I like this philosophy.  When I was in an active design engineering role at my company, I used to ask the installers and the start-up technicians these types of questions.  “How can I improve my design next time to make your installation easier or to make your start-up activities go more efficiently?”  I learned so much by asking questions like this.  As a manager now, I need to keep asking these questions.  I want to be the best manager possible to help my team succeed and to help my team members achieve their personal career targets.

Isaac’s teachers gave him some great feedback in response to his question.  They told him to speak up and to take a more active leadership role in group activities.  They encouraged him to be more creative in some of his assignments.  And they reaffirmed that he was already doing a great job.  Then the teachers turned the tables on Isaac by asking their own follow-up question, “How can we do a better job helping you?”  Isaac had to think about this question.  What a great conference to attend!  It was so neat to see students and teachers discussing ways to get better.  What an example for all of us!

And so, I’d like to ask a couple of questions.  I hope you’ll give me honest and constructive feedback.  It’s part of the STRETCHING process.  I value your feedback!

How can I better serve you – The Stretched Community?  What thoughts can you share to help me improve my writing and The Stretched Blog?  What topics would you like me to cover more often?  Less often?  What’s working well?  What’s not working so well? 

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving – 5 Ideas To Transform Your Holiday

November has been designated as the month for thanksgiving thanks to the holiday that falls towards the end of the month.  While I’d love to see thanksgiving be better represented the rest of the year, I can also tell you that our family probably concentrates more on giving thanks during this month than other months in the year.  (Note:  The picture above was taken this April at the Thanksgiving Square Chapel in Dallas, TX.)

Here is a list of several ideas which could help enhance your Thanksgiving experience.

1. Run or walk at a Turkey Trot.Last year, I did the Thanksgiving Marathon in NYC which might be considered a little overboard.  Why not get out and run or walk a community 5K?  Many towns across the country have started their own Turkey Trot.  My wife and kids have run one in Latrobe, PA several times.  The races are always fun, and it makes the turkey taste so much better later that day.
2. Invite someone over for dinner.  My guess is that you live near someone who is missing out on family.  They are lonely, and they may not have to means to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Why not invite them over to your house?  Usually, there are more than enough leftovers to go around after the Thanksgiving feast, and we can always put an extra chair around the table.
3. Go out and serve.  There are hundreds of opportunities around your community.  The church in my hometown used to hold a Community Thanksgiving Day meal where our family served a couple of times.  This was a great way for my parents to demonstrate that Thanksgiving was so much more than turkey and football.  We had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.  Why not find a place to serve with your family this Thanksgiving season?  (If you’re in the Perkiomen Valley area, consider joining our H.O.P.E. group.  We gather together twice a month to serve others in our community.  You can find out more about the group by going to our Facebook page (HOPEontheway).
4. Start a Thanksgiving tradition.  For over ten years, our family has been using the same tablecloth for our Thanksgiving dinner.  The tablecloth is white.  Each year, those in attendance trace their hand onto the tablecloth using different colored fabric markers.  Then in each of the five fingers, we write down something for which we’re thankful along with our name and the year.  The tablecloth is now filled with names of grandparents who are no longer with us and with years of thanksgiving.  As we look at the table each year, it gives us to reflect on how God has blessed us even through years of challenge.  Why not start a new tradition this year in your home?  Go buy a tablecloth and some fabric markers today!
5. Make it Thank You Thursday every week.  Matt McWilliams is a friend of mine from the blogging community.  A couple of months ago, Matt wrote about starting a Thank You Thursday Revolution.  In his post, he encouraged readers to write a handwritten Thank You note each Thursday.  Since his post, I’ve been writing a note every week to put into the mailbox of a co-worker.  It’s been remarkable to see the reaction.  We don’t need to be thankful one Thursday of the year.  Why not join the Thank You Thursday Revolution today?  It will change your world and the world of those around you!

This is a start!  What other ideas can you add to the list?  How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  How can do you plan to transform your holiday?

Ice Breaker – The Last Time I Cried

Each week on The Stretched Blog, we ask an ice breaker question.  The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community.  I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments.  While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week’s question is an oldie but a goodie.  My answer has changed since I originally posted this Ice Breaker question back on October 19, 2011.  This is one of my favorite Ice Breaker questions to ask.  Depending on the answers, the level of community can go real deep with a question like this.

Question:  When was the last time you cried?  And why?

A family changed forever in Guatemala (Photo by Kaleigh Rank)

My Answer:  Earlier this week, I shared my Wrecked Creative Expressions.  This was created the same day I last cried.  On July 29, 2012, our team finished the house in Guatemala.  For me, this was the culmination of a lot of hard work, prayer, and team effort.  As I’ve shared here before, it took 2 1/2 days and the hard work of our team of 31 to build the house.  It took over 3 months and a generous blogging community to raise the money to pay for the materials required to build the house.  The dedication service for the family was a moving experience (as I shared before).

After the dedication service, we headed to the center where we ate lunch every day.  As I walked into the center, missionary Dave Sgro asked me how I was doing.  I could barely get my answer out.  I explained the feeling of being “wrecked” over this experience.  I was transformed by the whole experience.  I know we forever changed the lives of the family who received this house.  But my life had been changed as well.  As I grabbed my lunch, I sat off to the side.  The tears were uncontrollable as I tried to collect my thoughts and eat my lunch.  The tears were tears of joy for a feeling of accomplishment.  They were tears of sadness as I didn’t want this part of the experience to be over.  And they were tears of uncertainty not knowing when I would be able to do something like this again.  And that is the last time I cried.

There you have it – my answer.  Now, it’s your turn.  Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!

Another Family Milestone – Our Daughter Heads to High School

Today marks a huge milestone in our family.  Hannah, our daughter and oldest child, starts high school.  How did that happen?

Are we as parents ready for this?  I’m not sure.

Is Hannah ready?  That’s another story.  She’s definitely ready!

She’s been practicing with the cross-country team for several weeks.  And she ran her first couple of scrimmage meets this past week.

She had already moved up to the high school youth group at church.  This move-up made her eligible to participate in the missions trip to Guatemala a month ago.  It was in Guatemala where it was made clear that she is ready for this transition.  She mixed in with the rest of the upperclassmen.  She knew as much or more Spanish than anyone else on the trip, and she was able to stand on the same level spiritually with the other kids on the trip.

There was a moment on the trip that will forever be etched in my memory.  In this moment, Hannah stood on her own as a caring, compassionate young woman.  When we finished building the house, our group held a dedication service with the family.  At this service, we gave the family the keys to the house.  We gave them a Bible signed by our team.  And we prayed with them.  At one point, Hannah pulled out her notebook.  I didn’t know this was coming (and I’m not sure if anyone else knew either).  Hannah had written out several words to share with the family.  I’m not sure what these words were since my Spanish is pretty weak, but I could tell the family was impressed and touched by what Hannah shared with them.

Photo by Kaleigh Rank:  The moment that will be etched in my memory forever.

And so, we arrive at today – her first day of high school.  I have such confidence and hope in Hannah’s future.  I know she’ll have her ups and downs.  But I’m a proud parent.  I’m thankful for this day!  I can’t wait to see what happens in Hannah’s next four years.

Do you remember your first year in high school?    How about your first day?  What do you remember about being a freshman?

Always Be Prepared – Lessons From A Smoke Alarm (Part 2)

Yesterday, I explained how a smoke detector alarm in my home reminded me of some valuable truths related to my preparation for sharing the reason for my hope (I Peter 3:15,16).  Today’s post is a follow up to my story as well as an addition to my preparation list.

After getting up at 3:45AM to the sound of the first alarm, going to the grocery store at 4AM to purchase 9 volt batteries, and replacing the batteries in all the smoke detectors in our house, the smoke alarm was still going off periodically.  Needless to say, I was beside myself.  What else could I do to resolve this annoying and disruptive noise that was filling our house at random times.

I did some research, and I discovered that it’s recommended that the smoke detectors are cleaned with compressed air or a vacuum.  Apparently, dust can get into the detector over time and cause false alarms.  Leanne and Isaac attempted to vacuum out the detector in question once everyone was awake, but the alarm still continued.  Ugh!

Finally, reading further in the instructions, it says that the detector may need to be replaced.  So at lunch yesterday, I ran over to the local hardware store and picked up a copy of smoke detectors that were compatible with our system.  When I arrived home after work, Isaac and I replaced the detector.  And I’m happy to report that we haven’t had an alarm since!

And so I’ve learned a couple more things about being prepared to give an answer for my hope:

• Research.  Besides reading the Bible (which should be the starting point and foundation for sharing your faith), there are other resources out there that might be helpful.  A couple that come to mind are Out of the Saltshaker and into the Earth (Evangelism as a Way of Life) by Rebecca Pippert, The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman, and Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels.  Research also includes understanding the interests, beliefs, and perspectives of others.  There are plenty of books, blogs, and websites that can help with this task.
• Replace defective parts.  As you grow and learn, replace the things in your life that don’t work in representing Christ well.  When we become Christians, we become new creations.  The old is gone.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come^: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

What other tips to you have for being prepared to share our hope?  What have you had to research lately?  What resources do you recommend to help others prepare to share their faith?  What is something you’ve had to replace in your life recently?

Beers, Brothers, and Bible Study

During our vacation, we stayed with my sister-in-law and her family for a couple of days in Columbia, SC.  It was fun to catch up with my nieces and to get a glimpse into the lives of our extended family.

As part of the visit, I was invited to attend a men’s Bible study group where they were discussing the attributes of a Biblical man and husband.  The discussion was interesting, and I definitely left the meeting challenged to step up in my role as a husband.

But there was something else that happened at the meeting that really got me thinking.  As the men were filing into the house where we met, we small talked about the newest Burger joint to open up in Columbia, the latest happenings in their church community, and the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State latest news.  As the small talk continued, the host came out with cookies and chips.  And then two six packs of beer emerged from the kitchen that were strategically placed by the chips.

As the meeting started, a few guys grabbed a beer without a second thought.  Not everyone participated in the beer, and it was certainly not forced on anyone nor was it the focus of the meeting.  I just thought it was a great way for guys to be guys – a way to help some guys feel a bit more comfortable with the group.

I’m not sure if there’s any Biblical evidence, but I suspect there would be wine or other alcoholic beverages when Jesus gathered with his disciples.  Can’t you just see Peter commenting to John about the great taste of the 4 B.C. wine?

I realize that this could be somewhat controversial for some.  After all, the Bible clearly states that we shouldn’t do anything that causes another brother or sister to stumble.  So having beer or wine at a small group meeting could be somewhat risky.  But I also wonder if the risk is worth it people who are far from God are drawn one step closer to Him, because they feel comfortable and welcomed by a group of guys doing what guys do – talking about sports, drinking a beer, and talking about things that matter.

What do you think?  Have you ever had beer at your small group meeting?

School’s Out For The Summer – Another Milestone

This morning, I’ll be going out to breakfast with my wife and kids and then I’ll be heading into the middle school for an awards assembly and celebration gathering for my daughter who will be ending her middle school career.

As I was tucking her into bed last night, Hannah confessed that she was sad that this was her last day at the school before she heads into high school in the fall. She has grown close to a great group of friends. She has enjoyed the joys and challenges brought on by her wonderful teachers. And she has especially fallen in love with the library and the library staff.

I know she’ll do fine at the next level, but I can also empathize with her feelings of sadness at the thought of leaving familiar territory and the prospect of facing the unknown. While it’s important to celebrate the past (and that’s what we’ll be doing today), it is also important to embrace the future. Just as God’s love has been evident in the past, His mercies will be new in the journey ahead.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

So as one of our kids bids farewell to middle school today, I thank God for the promise of a new day, a new chapter, and a continued hope that lies ahead.

Hannah, I’m so proud of you, and I’m looking forward to seeing how God reveals his mercies to you in the next step of your adventure.

What milestone are you facing these days? Are you looking forward with apprehension and fear or with hope and excitement (or maybe some of both)?