Boston: sacred space

Today's bombing at the finish line of the Boston marathon has struck a VERY personal chord inside of me. My heart is weeping and shaking and I've accepted this is a good thing. It's a bit strange.

The World Trade Center and other attacks of 9-11, the various school shootings, the shopping mall bombings, etc--violence has been a part of my life as something I see on the news as something to happening to other people in a far off place. Today is different.

In just a few months, I'm supposed to be moving to Boston. And I'm just 6 minutes away from qualifying to run the Boston marathon. Even if I wasn't close to a BQ time, it would still hit home simply because I am a marathon runner and I see the finish line as one of the most sacred spaces I've ever experienced.

The marathon finish line is joy and success and a window and fullness and emptiness and sharing and greeting and so much more. The finish line is met by weary feet and willing, proud hearts. The space around the finish line is one reserved for smiles or success and tears of joy and focus.

Today someone tried to blow that away 

and I feel personally attacked

because the marathon finish is my sacred space too

I just ran a marathon last weekend and never ever would have thought there would even be the slightest possibility that my parents and grandparents standing on the side could be in danger. That shouldn't have to change. 

When I grow up...

While making dinner and socializing with some friends a few weeks ago, the question arose: if you could be/do anything (career-wise) what would you do?

In typical fashion the man who had this question asked of him replied, "hands down, I'd be an astronaut." And my thought, immediately, was, well then why aren't you trying to be an astronaut? Why aren't you somehow linking your career to the space-exploration industry? Why on earth, if that is your "hands down!" passion, are you studying theology and ministry?

To have a dream that just sits there seems absolutely pointless and ultimately sad. Dreams are meant to be chased after not just pondered on a lazy Saturday afternoon. The passion of a dream should ignite within you a flame so powerful, it touches every aspect of your being. 

I stood there, cutting broccoli and thinking of my answer. Honestly, I can say I want, more than anything, to be a therapist. That's my dream job. No, it's not sparkily and fun, In fact, it promises to be dark and mysterious at times...but those shadowy experiences lead to an awakening of the self with which no space mission can compete. I can imagine doing other things but I cannot imagine feeling the passion I feel toward providing therapy toward any other career. 

And I was happy.

In fact, I felt a sense of relief in my answer. I felt validation that I was doing what I needed to be doing to follow my dream. 

Not all dreams have to be so big and lofty they are unreachable.