The Little Things....

Isn't it funny how your priorities begin to change as you grow older? Now, I realize I'm still in my 20s, but I can't help but see what I cherish and really desire in life beginning to change. Before I went off to college my goals in life were based largely in material things. And while I still set goals for myself and a bi-monthly paycheck is a very nice thing to pay the bills and live a little, it is not what drives me on a day to day basis.

I noticed this last night when I decided to bake some banana bread, carrying on a family tradition that I hope to pass along to my kids one day. One of my fondest memories as a child was eating my Grandpa's banana bread -- his speciality -- with butter smeared all over it. I used to look forward to those little individual loaves he'd make so that me and my brother would not fight over them. PURE GOODNESS! To be fair and since I'm an equal opportunity blogger, my grandmother is an extraordinary chef and baker in her own right. In fact, I have to give a shout out to my grandmother's banana pudding. Although I continue to tease her about a little incident a few years ago (which I will not mention on this blog to protect the identity and integrity of all parties involved), I still jump at the opportunity to dive into a big bowl of her banana pudding. Again, PURE GOODNESS!

Life has become more about the little things like family traditions and long conversations about life with family and friends, and less about achieving "worldly" success. It has become more about being present to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and the birth of children and less about "keeping up with the Jones." I don't pretend to be 100% solid in this area in my life, but I'm finding everyday a "little thing" to appreciate.

Gifts, Talents, and Abilities -- All for the Glory of God

The Bible tells us that we are "wonderfully and fearfully made." We were uniquely gifted with certain talents to bring honor and glory to the One who created us. I've spent a lot of time over the last few months evaluating and challenging myself to answer those questions that, if we are all being honest, we yearn to know and understand the answer to -- why was I created and what is my purpose?

The Lord has blessed me with spiritual gifts, talents and abilities and it's my job to turn around and use those to honor Him. We are commanded to "love the Lord, our God, with ALL of our heart, soul, and mind" and "love others as ourself." This can manifest itself in several different ways for different people. For me, it's running, it's coaching Little League baseball, it's taking a week of vacation to go to YoungLife camp, it's calling my family or friends just to listen when they are hurting, or it's doing my job as effectively as possible. These are opportunities for me to worship the God who created me and "knit me together in my mother's womb."

Leading up to the Beijing Olympics this summer, I've been following some American distance runners and their quest to realize their Olympic dreams. In particular, I've been following Ryan Hall through his blog and other news coverage. I ran across this article -- "Free to Run" -- and interview on Sharing the Victory.com today. In the article and interview, Ryan Hall talks about the Lord's calling on his life and why he runs.



You may not be a runner, but I'm certain there you have a certain activity or hobby that you are gifted or talented in. So, why do you "run"? What's your purpose? What unique gifts do you possess that you could use to honor and glorify the Lord?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Going International!! Visitor from Lisbon, Portugal

First off, if you are reading my blog, I'm so thankful. So many people over the past few weeks have told me that they've been reading my blog. I'm absolutely blown away that you would find what I write half way interesting.

With that mind, I thought I'd check out my blog audience's makeup today so that I could tailor my material to make it more interesting for my readers. As I was checking my site meter today, I noticed that I have a reader in Lisbon, Portugal. What??? I had to look on a map to find out where that was. How cool is that?!?!

If you are reading from Portgual, could you drop my an e-mail and reveal your identity? (or you can remain anonymous if you'd like to)

I'm now reaching an international audience, albeit very small. :)

Chew on this....

Recently, I've been reading through A.W. Tozer's book -- The Knowledge of the Holy. The book deals specifically with the attributes of God. It is a very "meaty" book that I've been working through slowly over the past couple of weeks.

I ran across a quote from the book yesterday that I thought I'd pass along for you to chew on.

In reference to God's infinitude:

For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are in Christ share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years. God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. [emphasis added] Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.

Do you have trouble resting in God's sovereignty or trusting God's perfect timing in your life? In case you are wondering, my head is shaking with an emphatic "yes."

Ironman 70.3 Kansas -- In the Books

Ironman 70.3 Kansas is in the books!! You can call me "Ironboy with an asterisk" (more on that later). I'm safely back in sunny and sweltering Scottsdale after an adventurous, yet extremely fun, race in Lawrence, Kansas. It was great to race with Scott, Michael, West, and Robert along with the awesome support of our cheering crowd -- Carter and Natalie and Jeff and Sarah -- who endured and supported us along the way. Natalie also took some great pictures of the competition which I will post on my blog as soon as she is done with the editing process. This was my first half Ironman experience and it will not be my last. I can't explain how much fun I had.

Here is a brief recap of what went down in Lawrence on Sunday:

BEFORE THE RACE
We rose early to make it down to the race site at 5:30 a.m. The thrill of competition exuded from the main staging and transition area. I calmly entered transition to get everything in order. My bike rack neighbor, Jeff, and I enjoyed some friendly banter back and forth trying to calm our nerves before the race. Then, just as I'm about to walk out of transition to the swim start, I took one final look at my bike. YIKES! My front tire was completely flat. I quickly yanked my tire off my bike and took it to a local mechanic who changed it in about 3 minutes. UNBELIEVABLE -- Code Red situation averted. Has anyone who has been following this blog noticed a trend before races?

SWIM
I made the conscious decision to take it out slow and get into a rhythm. Taking it out slow -- accomplished; getting into a rhythm -- well, that took a little longer. Soon I was able to find my stroke and actually enjoyed the swim this time. I came out of the water in 47 minutes and was happy to be alive and ready for the bike.

BIKE
How many "Running the Race" blog readers think Kansas is nothing but flat corn and wheat fields? I'd say at least 99 percent of you. The other 1 percent are lying because you know where I'm headed. The bike course was the most challenging 56 miles I've ever ridden in my entire life. HILLS and WIND -- together and in symphony with each other. I'm not talking about dinky little "mounds"; I'm talking serious hills. Thankfully, the course was designed with three out and backs. All of the outs were hilly and windy, the backs were nice with winds at your back and fast. After 2:19 on the bike course, I returned to home base thinking to myself -- there is no way I'm going to be able to run 13.1 miles. It is probably going to look more like a shuffle.

RUN
I laced up my trusty Mizuno running shoes and headed out on what I thought was going to be a dreadful run. I knew in the back of my mind that the run was my part of the race. And, to my surprise, I settled into a nice 8-9 minute mile pace and held it. I WAS HAVING A BLAST! I went into the run with a plan -- keep a steady pace and walk the aid stations as a reward. I was doing it. I was on my way to becoming an Ironboy. About six miles into the run, the weather rolled in. The sky was really dark and by mile 7 the winds had picked up. Pretty soon, I was corralled by race officials towards to finish line. The race had been cut short and called off due to thunder storms and a tornado warning for the area. I was a little disappointed since my run was going so well. I really wanted to finish the race, but safety was a primary concern. Because of this event, I have an asterisk next to my Ironboy name. I can hear to announcer now, "Burke, you are an Ironboy*!"

POST RACE THOUGHTS
Will I ever compete in an Ironman or half Ironman ever again? Absolutely!! I'm probably going to save a full Ironman for another two or three years, but several more half Ironmans will be in my near future. I'm planning to take a month "off" where I pull back my training from 5-6 days a week to 3-4 days per week. I'm going to enjoy the summer and the travel that is ahead, but I'm sure we will take another Ironman journey soon.

Two months ago, I almost dropped out of this race because I didn't feel like I was in good enough shape. I was encouraged by the 5 guys mentioned above to stay the course because they've never heard of "an Aggie who quits." That little quote touched a little nerve and made me get back out and continue training. I'm thankful I did. It was a journey. It was an experience. It will be a memory that I will continue coming back to for a long time to come.

Thank you to everyone who supported me with notes and words of encouragement on race day and leading up to the race. Check back later this week for pictures from the event!!

We're not in Kansas anymore Toto (or Ironboy)!!

This weekend, five friends (Michael, Scott, Robert, Carter and West) from Houston and myself will take to the water and streets of Lawrence, Kansas in a quest to become half Ironman. I think the word "excited" is a little bit of an understatment at this point. I'm so excited that I went ahead and packed my suitcase last night.

**I even remembered to pack my running shoes so that I don't have the same experience that I had a few weeks ago in Tempe.**

Yesterday, my friend sent me a message of encouragement for my race this weekend. He pointed out something that I've never thought of before, so I'm passing it along to you for consideration. Here is his thought:

If you complete full Ironman, people call you an "Ironman." If you complete a half Ironman [which is what I'm competing in this weekend], do people call you an "Ironboy"? Because calling someone a "half Ironman" just isn't working for me.

Thanks, Neil for the observation. You have a very valid point. So if I complete the race this weekend, you are more than welcome to call me "Ironboy" the time you see me.

What You Are Created To Do

Have you ever noticed the times in your life when you are doing what the Lord has uniquely created you for and gifted you to do? It is almost effortless. It is fulfilling. It brings a smile to your face. I've had that feeling over the past couple of weeks.

What about you? Have you ever sat down and evaluated your strengths and where the Lord has uniquely gifted you? If not, I'd encourage you to do so. I went through this exercise for the first time this year and I have to say it has changed the way I think and how I spend my time.

Uncle Burke brag time

I went home this weekend to spend a little time with my family, see my cousin graduate and see baby Mallory's dedication at Church. I'm sorry you have to sit through this, but I wanted to post a few pictures of us. Mallory continues to make great strides and her health continues to improve. On Monday, she turned 8 months. I would really appreciate your continued prayers for her, my brother, sister-in-law, and entire family as we trust the Lord with her life.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."Psalm 139: 13-16

Why I Luv Southwest?

There are many reasons why I LUV flying Southwest -- not withstanding that I'm close to being "A-List" because I fly with them so much. But one of the main reasons is because they make traveling FUN. So when I read this post from JetWhine, I thought to myself -- all in a day's work at Southwest Airlines. I have experienced this fun spirit countless times during my travel.

There is no doubt about it, no matter how many times you've flown or how efficiently you can naviagate an airport, traveling is highly stressful. -- energizing, yet stressful. It's refreshing to see an airline put so much importance on their customers.

It begs the question -- would the other airlines post huge financial losses if they dedicated more focus to their customers?

(Note to the other airlines: You might want to investigate on how you can follow their lead.)

Life in the Fast Lane

I just returned from a four day adventure in God's country -- Texas. It has become a past time of mine since moving out to Arizona. I've traveled for a variety of different reasons over the past year and half including weddings, wedding parties, bachelor parties, races, the birth of my niece, holidays, etc. Did I mention weddings?

With each weekend I board my favorite airline -- Southwest Airlines -- who employ my favorite flight attendants and my favorite pilots who love to make kamikaze stops on the runway. What a rush!!

If you've had the pleasure of traveling with me or have asked me about my travel, you might know that I have an airport routine. This routine is designed to move me through check-in, the security checkpoint, and on to my gate as quickly and efficiently as possible. I have a little contest with myself every time I travel. It's two fold:

• Beat my current "personal best" time on getting through check-in and security (PR: <5:00)


• Get to the airport in just enough time to walk straight on my plane!

If I'm able to accomplish these two goals, I've had a successful day at the office. If you are asking yourself, "Burke, how can I become more efficient at the airport?" I invite you to follow these simple guidelines.

• While packing your carry on bag, leave on pouch empty. This will come in handy at the airport.


• Check your flight's gate information. It will come in handy later.


• On your way to the airport, memorize your confirmation and flight number. It's normally 6 characters in length. Store it in short term memory and you will be good to go. If this is too hard for you, you might need to reconsider going back to elementary school.


• While in the check-in line, start stripping. No, not your clothes, just your jewelery, watch, cell phone, belt, wallet, etc. Store these items in your "empty pouch" in your carry on, but keep your ID or passport handy. You will save valuable time in security if you take care of this while you are waiting to check in.


• Review your confirmation code again.


• Proceed to the nearest electronic check in. This should move very fast since you already have your confirmation number memorized.


• Proceed directly to your gate without being told where to go. Always think one step ahead.


• Move through through security with your ID and ticket in hand. If you have a lap top, go ahead and take it out as your move through the line. This will expedite the process. Also, untie your shoes as you move through the line. Or better yet, wear flip flops -- easy on, easy off.


• Grab two grey bins and only two. Toss your carry on on the conveyor belt. Your laptop in a bin and your shoes in a seperate bin. THEY MUST BE IN A SEPERATE BIN. Don't ask me why? Because TSA made the rules. Remember, I don't make the rules.


• CONGRATULATIONS! You successfully made it through security, passing several slow pokes in the process.

So, why did I want to post on airport security today? Because several airports, including my beloved Houston Hobby, are trying out this new system to break up the lines. Check this out.

GET OUT OF MY WAY, BLACK DIAMOND HERE I COME!! I was one happy camper. "Expert Traveler" had my name written all over it yesterday. I was in the line with several of my Type A personality friends who were also trying to achieve personal bests in getting through security in the quickest time. I felt like I was racing in a sprint triathlon with only one transition.

My Starbucks Experience

Many of you who read this blog know that I have a deep, deep appreciation for a good hot cup of Starbucks coffee. Nothing gets me going in the morning better than my morning cup of joe.

I received two Starbucks gift cards for my birthday from two very generous people who know me very well. With this "free money" I figured I could go to Starbucks every day for two weeks without spending a dime on coffee. My budget applauded.

So my adventure began...I picked my favorite store (had about 10 to choose from in a 5 mile radicus) and consistently patronized the store for the past two weeks. During that time, I've gotten to know a few of the baristas, they have gotten to know me and what my drink of choice is -- venti Pike Place with no room. I also bring my Starbucks mug that KB got me from Seattle to be "extra official."

This is where the cool part comes in....

Every morning for the past week, I've been greeted with a "Good Morning Burke, can I get that mug filled up for you?" "Absolutely," I respond. In addition to my morning cup of coffee, I've also been enjoying reading the Word, journaling, and reading through a book called "The Knowledge of the Holy" by AW Tozer.

Yesterday, as I was ordering my coffee, Ashley -- my barista -- noticed the book I was reading. We got a chance to talk about it and discuss it briefly. Then, she mentioned that she would like to read it. AWESOME!! Just so happens that I had a second copy of the book at home. So this morning, I brought my extra coffee by the store and dropped it off. The other baristas took notice and asked if they could read it as well. The Lord is working in my neighborhood Starbucks!!

I'm so pumped. I don't care if I have to pay $1.85 every morning I'm going to keep showing up.

It was God's subtle reminder that His Spirit is alive and moving in every aspect of our life. Every one of us -- whether we deny it or accept it -- has a God sized hole in our hearts that longs to be filled by Him. Every one of us, including myself, try to fill that hole with material things that continue to leave us empty and we must constantly be reminded that only God can fill that space and complete us.