The tough mudder pledge = a Plan of Life

Since this is "tough mudder detox" week here at our blog, I figured I'd talk about my favorite part of the tough mudder.  For me, my favorite part of this event didn't actually involve any physical activity at all.  My favorite part actually was right before the race.

Picture it: it's a 31 degree Saturday morning, and you're surrounded by 200 people dressed all in compression shorts and under armour from head to toe.  Everyone's crammed in a little 15'x15' square of an area, surrounded by 2 ropes, a 7 foot wall (which you just had to jump over to even get here), and a 10 foot inflatable with "START" written in dirty white print.  Between everyone hopping around and "Eye of the tiger" playing at full volume, you'd think you were in some strange new Rocky movie.  

There's then a voice over the speakers, a voice filled with calm excitement for you and all your 199 compatriots you are about to run 12 miles with through muck, mud, fire, over walls, under water, and through trails galore.  He's beginning to pump everyone up with questions and exciting statements.  There's loud viking like yells and "Hoo-rahs" in proper response.  You're all doing classic call and response chants ("I say __x___, you say ___y___, X!" "Y!") and you begin now to feel like you're a starting linebacker are about to run into a high school championship football game.  

You take a knee and the "EM-Cee" is now congratulating all of you for having the guts to show up here with so much enthusiasm to attempt to accomplish one of the greatest physical challenges you've probably faced in your life so far.  He begins to remind you of the real reason for the tough mudder: the wounded warrior project (a great organization, please check them out) and all those active, wounded, and deceased members of our nation's military. You then stand, and in true American fashion, listen to the national anthem.

After the traditional cheer, you are told you must recite what you will come to know as the "Tough Mudder Pledge":

I couldn't help but think, after the run of course, how much this pledge can apply to our own lives, especially for us here living in community here in Orange.

I understand that the tough mudder is not a race but a challenge:

How many times do we forget that our lives are not about "finishing first" or being the best, because we all see God in heaven?  What matters is that we make it to "the finish".  But to get there is a challenge, full of little challenges, all of which bring us closer to our God.

I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time:

For us to finish, we must have community.  There is no leaving people in the dust (or mud) and still making it to heaven.  Holiness comes through helping our brothers.  Don't we too often not bother to help our brother or sister who needs it just because we don't feel like it?

I do not whine, kids whine: 

Probably one of my favorite lines of this pledge.  We sometimes wait until Sunday or a regular daily prayer time (right before bed for many) to "whine" to God.  "Lord I can't stand this person, let me not have to deal with them as much" or "God I definitely am going to fail this final, there's nothing I can do, make a miracle happen".  But why do we wait to pray, and why do we "whine" when we pray?  God walks with us, even if we don't see Him.  At the very moment we feel the trouble within us when we see that person or when we worry for that final, why not shoot a quick prayer up and know that God will answer, because he is already with us?  Also, why "whine" when we could just say "Alright God, here's the challenge, WE GOT THIS!!!"

I help my fellow mudders complete the course:

Again, we are all in this together, why ride solo?

and I overcome ALL MY FEARS:

Pretty simple: with God, we should have no fears.

Well now you've said the pledge, let's countdown to the start (putting down your computer and heading out there and "running the run")

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-GO!!!!!!

Run, Forrest! Run!

Imagine this:  a finish line.
     You can see it. You can imagine how it would feel to run across it. You think of all the cool victory dances you could possibly do. O the glory in that moment!

There's only one problem:  the finish line is 12 miles away.
     So, obviously there are more important things. What's your strategy for the 12 miles? How do you even approach a race like this?!  In my opinion, the world gives us two main options:

1.

2.        

     It would seem, because our God is one of moderation, that the Gospel is telling us something different. Maybe it's just me, but I think we are called to run as fast and as steady as we can.  And this was our strategy for the Tough Mudder this last weekend.  For success is not measured in quantity ("fastness") alone, nor is it measured in quality ("steadyness") alone. Rather, it is the two together.

     And isn't this exactly how it is with our Catholic faith! We can pray 20 rosaries a day like Padre Pio did and still not be remotely close to his level of holiness.  We could have a 10 second "wow" moment of God's love for us and never think of it again for as long as we live. So, now you can say it: "What is this guy getting at?"

     What I'm getting at is this:  We were meant to be intense followers of Christ, intense in quality and in quantity. And it is our brothers and sisters also seeking to grow in a more intense love for Christ that calls us to pick up the slack. This is what makes religious life so beautiful.  This is what made our Tough Mudder experience so beautiful...for it was a visible sign of how we, particularly as Christians, are called to inspire each other and call each other on. May you be motivated to do the same this day.

So, today...don't let the smallness of your individuality hold you back! Have the faith of a child and run to the Father's arms!

Teach us to pray!

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

     What a wonderful example St. Bernadette is for us of humble and courageous faith! If we but listen to Our Mother, learn from her, grow in relationship to her, and remain obedient to her--our lives will be filled with immense peace. Certainly there will be many trials and difficulties, there will be suffering and pain--this she promises us. But if we remain in dialogue and relationship with her--that peace which is unsurpassable will never fail. 

     Let us remember today the difference between loving our Blessed Mother and being in love with our Blessed Mother. We can devote our lives to doing things for her and spreading her messages and imitating her life; but if we do not accept her into our own (cf. Jn 19:25-27), if we do not allow her into our hearts to dwell there and make peace of our lives--we have failed. For to love is not enough! We must fall in love! We must fall into something so great, so much greater than ourselves and our lives! We must fall into the Fiat, the 'yes' of Our Lady, and allow our lives to be a living "YES!" to our Father in heaven!

"Dear children! With joy, also today I call you to open your hearts and to listen to my call. Anew, I desire to draw you closer to my Immaculate Heart, where you will find refuge and peace. Open yourselves to prayer, until it becomes a joy for you. Through prayer, the Most High will give you an abundance of grace and you will become my extended hands in this restless world which longs for peace. Little children, with your lives witness faith and pray that faith may grow day by day in your hearts. I am with you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Monthly Message--January 25th, 2012

So today, on this wonderful feast, let us join in prayer for not only peace in our world but peace in our own hearts--that we might truly learn to call God our Father. May this video allow the Our Father to truly resonate within your heart: