Racing

Bon jour! Where has the week gone? Tomorrow we leave for Africa and I wanted to make one more post since my last was pretty short and not very interesting.

My mind is currently racing... Iwan just got back from getting croissants and a baguette and Emeka is still sleeping. I'm on my second café and buzzing! Not sure if this is a good thing or not as part of my morning energy may be nerves.

For the most part the weather has been on the cooler side and pretty gray. Not at all what I expected Paris to be like in the Spring yet we've still managed to have a full week in Paris or as full as it can and should be considering what the three of us have ahead of us in the coming week.

Ugh! The café... my fingers just can't keep up with my mind and I don't want this post to be an account of Emeka, Iwan and my daily activities for the week but more an account of where I am mentally going into this crazy race. I have no doubt that this is by far the most daunting challenge I've ever taken on. I know that there will be days were my body will hate me and my mind will tell me to quit but I have faith that my pride, character and competitive personality won't let me.

I've often been asked why I signed up and paid money to subject myself to something as crazy as The Marathon des Sables and the only logical responce I'm able to articulate is that putting my mind and body in places they are most uncomfortable makes me feel ALIVE! One never knows how they will respond to a situation until you put yourself in it. I have no delusions of grandure here. I know this will be tough, challenging and want it to be! I want to meet a part of myself that I haven't met before and learn about her. I want to struggle and I want to over come. And ,most importantly, I want to leave the desert stonger and mentally a tougher person than when I arrive.

So at that, I leave you with a quote that one of my dearest friends sent which is oddly appropriate at this moment in my life.

The desert sometimes issues its own invitation;

“Come ! Enter into my silence, my uncluttered solitude,

my stark beauty, and I will show you the depths

of your own soul you never knew you had.

Come and listen to the Holy One who speaks within,

tells you that you are loved, and clarifies your call to service.

Come and find strength; let grace encompass you;

Let go of baggage; and wait simply for God.”

-Elizabeth J. Canham, A Table of Delight