Inspiration

Who Says? What is Beautiful? Video!

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 2 Comments

In hopes to inspire the women of POWER and women across the nation who are not in the area, we have created a video.  A visual with the questions that Janine and I ask oursevles all the time…

WHO SAYS?   WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL?

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv22.nonxt6.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D3502055e5ef83e73%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1328224052%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DCF3C78C36D0A1F545BA37F1E4BCE9070DFF9459C.3C537677CCDCB0CD458D480ED1FF3CBB21FA601E%26key%3Dlh1

Thrilled to share this video and hope that it will spur conversations in your office, among your girlfriends, and even in your homes.

Just showed it to my 7 year old and asked her…”what IS beautiful?”   Her response was astounding…she teared up seeing the women with the lip plates and neck rings.  She said, “what was wrong with their bodies before?  Why did they feel they had to do that?”   I explained that the same women who were the fancy dresses, wearing lots of make up, or were simply “too thin” were trying to alter their body to achieve the standard of beauty in our culture.   Wide eyed she said, “mom, I think true beauty MUST come from the inside then!”   Well said.  Once again, from the mouth of babes.

VIDEO

Thanks sweet Christopher for sharing your skills and time to make this happen.  Your daughter will thank you someday too!

May you be a blessing and may you be blessed!

Jenni

Be Needy

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ Leave a comment

Reading is one of my passions.  Yet, there are very few written words that speak to me the way this woman’s words speak.  I sometimes think it is because I know her, I have heard her share her heart and can hear her “voice”.  But truly–I think it is because God has inspired her to write, and has given her a willingness to be so incredibly honest and vulnerable that it reaches in to your very soul and goes as far as to gently ask for a response.

If you have not read “The Climb” it will give you background as to who Cabell Sweeney is and why I think she is such an inspiration.  I thank God for Cabell’s courage throughout this journey and want to share a portion of her last journal entry:

“When I was 19 I became overwhelmed by my need for a Savior. In my dorm room at The University of Georgia I kneeled before God and told Him I was desperate to be loved by Him. I confessed I had made a mess of my life and anything I did to try to fix the brokenness or numb the pain created more of a mess. I told Him I needed Him. But then I got off my knees and set to proving to God that He needed me too. I wanted to be sure He wouldn’t regret picking me for His team. So I started “doing” stuff for God. I became an even better friend, a better student. I became a Young Life leader. I was a good girlfriend, a good teacher and eventually an excellent wife. (Since Sweeney isn’t here to debate the point I’m going with excellent wife.) Sadly, I didn’t stay in a place of desperate need for my Savior.
I didn’t stay “needy” because the world tells us neediness is ugly. Being needy is for the weak. Being needy is too vulnerable, too uncomfortable- too exposed. So we push it away and say we are ok. Doin’ just fine on our own. No one wants to be perceived as needy- “Come on pull yourself together!” is the world’s harsh demand.
We learned so much about need as Sweeney battled cancer. About 4 months into the 18-month battle, with so many times in and out of the hospital, Sweeney began to sleep on the couch. Ironically, our bed was just too comfortable. And his sleep patterns were all messed up. At first I would wake up several times throughout the night to check on him and give him medicine. If he remained awake I would stay with him until he fell back asleep. But at some point I would kiss him and ask, “Do you need anything?” He would answer, “No, I’m ok- I don’t need anything.” After a week or so our bedroom felt too far away so I moved to the guest room. Same routine every night. Get medicine, stay with Sweeney, ask him, “Do you need anything?” Same response, “No. I’m ok- I don’t need anything.” Then the guest room was too far away; so I moved to the love seat next to the couch. And one night as I was leaning over to kiss him asking, “Do you need anything?” I saw the tears streaming down Sweeney’s face. “Cabell, I’m not ok. I just need you. I need to be loved.”
And then something so beautiful happened between us. Something we had tasted so often in our marriage but hadn’t lived in every single day- we realized how much we needed to be loved by the other. It was a fact that cancer revealed. We weren’t afraid of being too vulnerable or too needy. And I came alive in a different way being needed by this incredibly strong, athletic man I loved and respected more than any other living person. So every night that we were alone we snuggled or I rubbed his feet or told him stories of falling in love with Him. I told him how proud I was standing in the back of the room as he told hundreds of high school kids about God’s love for them. I told him what it did inside me to stand on the sideline of the ultimate field and watch him so humbly dominate. I told him how listening to him play guitar was like water in a dry land. I told him every single thing I loved about his heart and his body and his character. I read scripture; we prayed. Until Sweeney died, I slept between the couch and the coffee table because anywhere else was too far away.
Something beyond beauty happens in complete vulnerability. It is what transforms us in the presence of God.
It makes me think of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years whose story is found in Luke chapter 8. She was desperate. She was so needy. She knew she was not ok, she knew she needed Jesus. But in this crowd of hundreds, maybe thousands was she really the only one who was desperate for healing- desperate for a different life? I doubt it. Maybe she was the only one who had been bleeding for twelve years but surely she wasn’t the only one in pain for over a decade. Surely she wasn’t the only one who had spent “all she had”- all her money, all her time, all her energy, all her hope trying to get well. Surely she wasn’t the only one who needed to hear that she wasn’t  “unclean”- that she was beautiful and dearly loved. She couldn’t have been the only one who wanted someone to love her enough to listen to her “whole story” with compassion. But she was the ONLY one in that moment who had this intimate encounter with the God of Creation, The Savior of the World; because she reached out for Him, for the edge of his robe and in doing so said, “I’m not ok, I need you to love me. I need you to change my circumstances.” And Jesus did.
So here’s my point. Stop trying to not be needy. In my marriage, in my deepest friendships, in my family, in God’s word and in His presence I have known a love that passes understanding. A love that is so tender it makes me cry. It’s because I’ve been too tired and too broken to pretend I am not needy. There has been no choice but to be completely vulnerable. And being in this place of need has allowed God to enter in and love me and change me forever.
2 Corinthians 12:9 Says that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.”                   Cabell Sweeney

May you be a blessing and may you be blessed,

Jenni

Mumford and Sons…Roll Away Your Stone

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 1 Comment

Music does not always “speak” to me.  (Hence super old play lists in my studio.)  But recently while cleaning my gym I listened to this song for the first time.  I had heard it over 100 times…but had never really listened.  There I stood with my vacuum in hand, with chills, and tears falling down my face as I heard my story being articulated by this cool trendy band.  I shared it again today with a client, and again was struck by the subtle, yet powerful truth it proclaimed.  She said, “it is like an anthem”.  And it is:  MY ANTHEM.  I pray it might be yours as well.  

Roll away your stone, I’ll roll away mine
Together we can see what we will find
Don’t leave me alone at this time,
For I am afraid of what I will discover inside

You told me that I would find a hole,
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal,
And all the while my character it steals

Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek

It seems that all my bridges have been burned,
But, you say that’s exactly how this GRACE thing works
It’s not the long walk home 
that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive with the restart

Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek

Stars hide your fires,
And these here are my desires
And I will give them up to you this time around
And so, I’ll be found 
with my stake stuck in this ground
Marking its territory of this newly impassioned soul
hide your fires,
these are my desires
And I will give them up to you this time around
ADD:And so, I’ll be found 
with my stake stuck in this ground
Marking its territory of this newly impassioned soul

But you, you’ve gone too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine

If given the opportunity, I would strongly urge you to not just read the lyrics, but listen to this song.  It speaks to deep places of our souls.  
May you be a blessing and may you be blessed! 
JC

Christmas Simplicity…

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This morning I was touched by a Christmas card we received.  It was from a 20-something young man with autism.   Brandon lives with his parents in Oxford, does not drive, and leads a very simple humble life.  Brandon met Chris and I through Young Life many years ago.  He latched on to Chris and of course Chris loved Brandon with a wreckless abandon.  Quite honestly I was less patient as Brandon would call our home, our office (we worked together), and our cells several times a week.  Always at the most inopportune time.   He just wanted to touch base and let Chris know the most recent happenings in his life…the mail came, he bought a new baseball card, etc.  In the “busyness” of my life and ministry I often would become annoyed by Brandon’s calls.  Over the years and through the switching of vocations, the calls were less frequent…but Brandon has stayed connected to Chris.

This morning I opened a card from Brandon simply saying,

“Dear Christopher, Jennifer, Kylee, Caleb and Joshua–(seriously he knew all my kids names???)–


Let me start off by saying what an amazing year this has been (although we have not talked much this year).    But I look forward to the next year and what it has to offer.  Finally, I would like to wish you and yours a safe, wonderful, blessed, and Merry Christmas.  May God continue to bless all of y’all. 


Love, 


Brandon and Family”

I was STRUCK by his simplicity.  STRUCK by his joy.  (What has made his year so amazing?)  I doubt he won the lottery or even had any major event happen that we would normally consider “amazing”.  He is just simply thankful and was quick to find the joy in the past year of his life.  He is gracious with us that we have not been in touch–not annoyed or bitter–but hopeful of more time in the future.  And what a beautiful “wish” I have not been wished a more sincere Christmas “wish” in my lifetime!

Forgive me Brandon for missing the simplicity of our friendship in the past.  Forgive me for being too rushed to slow down…I missed your heart…I missed YOU.

I have learned many lessons this morning–ones that I hope to carry me well through the Christmas season.  I hope to remember to stand in awe of the little things.  I hope to be gracious with others.  I also hope to send SINCERE well wishes and blessings.  My friend Brandon who many would say in this world is “the least of these” and “simple” taught me GREAT WISDOM today!

God says that he uses the foolish to shame the wise.   I am SO very thankful.

May YOU be a blessing and may you be blessed!

Jenni

The Climb…

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 3 Comments

I spent one month of my life with Cabell Sweeney.  We were on the Ropes and Rappel crew in 1997 at Frontier Ranch, a Young Life camp in the mountains of Colorado.   When I met her I was struck by her big smile and her passionate heart.  Cabell has more passion in her big toe than most people muster in a lifetime!  Cabell and I immediately became fast friends and one of our connections was our “sweet boyfriends” back home whom we would write and share “love stories”.   Cabell was crazy about Mike and wrote him faithfully all month long.  Boyfriends aside, we also spent a tremendous amount of time together as we worked long hours either climbing the mountain to belay down cabins of kids each day; or we would be sending them through a high ropes course ensuring that they both conquer their fears and have the best week of their lives!   We worked together, ate together, laughed together, and worshiped together.  (I always think of Cabell as we sang almost daily “I lift my eyes up…up to the mountains…where does my help come from?  My help comes from you…Maker of heaven…Creator of this earth.”  Psalm 121.)  I think our work on the mountain and the huge ascent and decent we made daily brought this song to life even more than it would have had we worked in the bakery.   Some days I needed all the help I could get to climb that mountain…again!   We laughed a lot and shared funny stories about campers, but most of all we shared a passion for high school kids and our desire for them to have the best week of their lives and hopefully get a glimpse of Heaven on earth…we hoped they’d meet their Maker. 


Cabell and I both married the boys that we loved and our stories seemed to be intertwined through the years as we both served on Young Life staff (Chris and I in NC and she and Mike in GA).  I even had the gift of being Head Leaders with Sweeney (his beloved nickname) for a month at a camp in Georgia and I learned then why she loved him so!   All of this to say–it was a tragic day when I learned of his Stage 4 Melanoma cancer and that he was fighting for his life.  Cabell and Mike’s story has been documented beautifully in her blogs.  (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikesweeney)  They are filled with so much wisdom, so much truth…and most of all Cabell is REAL.   They tell a beautiful love story of Cabell and Mike.  They tell a beautiful love story of a Heavenly Father and two precious children.  They speak of heartache and pain in an unapologetic way.   They speak of faith and hope where most would find none.  They speak of God’s goodness no matter what.  


Cabell’s most recent entry impacted me profoundly.   I cannot help but think of the mountains and think of Cabell.  I really rarely think of Young Life camp without a thought of Cabell.  So to read this melted my heart and I can imagine each step of the climb that day…



written by Cabell Sweeney

I just spent several weeks working at a Young Life camp in North Carolina called Windy Gap. It was a rich time for me, I felt valued and affirmed- it was good for my soul. I am still “unpacking” all that God taught me. The following isn’t something He necessarily taught me, maybe more made me aware of. Or grateful for… deeply grateful for…
Each week every high school kid and leader would head out of camp to hike to the top of a nearby mountain. It was an invigorating hike- not too overwhelming. The group would start out strong but inevitability there would be campers who fell to the back, struggled to keep up and felt discouraged quickly. I would hang toward the end to walk with these campers and encourage them to not give up. I got to spend several hours with a handful of high school kids and we had significant conversations. One week in particular God gave me the sweetest picture of friendship- specifically of my friends, on the way up the mountain. In tears, I shared this vision with “K”, the girl I was walking with that day. She didn’t really know what to do with it all at first, but I have found if I act like it is perfectly normal to cry and talk about your heart and your dead husband and your God then other people think it must be normal too. Because… they don’t know any different, and who is really going to challenge me on this? Now I will share it with you. You too, can act like it is totally normal.
So my friend “K” fell behind and wanted to quit within the first half hour of the hike. I just took a deep breath and thought, Ok, sorta early for the You can’t quit! talk, but alright, here we go. So I gave her the You will be so proud of yourself when you get to the top. Don’t you want to accomplish something you never have before? Don’t you want to exceed even your own expectations? Don’t you want to have this day to look back on and realize you CAN do something you never thought you could do? talk.  To which she replied, with extreme attitude I might add, “No, I don’t. I want to quit. I don’t care about any of that crap you just said. My body hurts, I can’t do it and I’m quitting.”   I began scrambling, thinking, Alright, I’ll have to step it up and play the God card. I continued, “Well, maybe you are right. Maybe you don’t have it in you to climb this mountain. But God is bigger than you think. And you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. God will beam with pride when you allow Him to get you to the top of this mountain.” To which “K” replies, “I thought God loved me no matter what. He’s not going to love me less if I quit.” My thought at that point was, DANG CABELL, you have met your match. Kinda sassy, kinda smart and not easily swayed.
I was forced to play the “card” I only like to play as a last, last resort- the card of emotional manipulation. I explained to “K” that my husband, Sweeney died of cancer over a year ago and there were many days when I thought, I simply cannot do this. My body hurts. My heart hurts. I don’t have it in me. I have to quit. But then my friends would come alongside me and say, “Maybe you are right. You cannot do this alone. But God is bigger than you think. His Holy Spirit is alive in you. And you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.” I asked her if I could hold her hand as we walked. She said yes. Then I explained what it meant to have a friend walk beside you up a mountain. I asked if I could take her water bottle and her bag to lighten her load. She said yes. Then I explained to her what it meant to have a friend carry your burden. For some stretches, I would run a little ahead and then stop and encourage “K” to just make it to me- only focus on getting to me. Then I explained what it meant to have a friend “believe” something for you until you could “get there” for yourself. At times, on steep inclines “K” simply couldn’t find the strength to keep walking. I stepped behind her, put my hands on her back and literally pushed her forward until she regained strength. I explained what it meant to have a friend come behind you and push you forward with scripture and prayer and love.  And then “K” asked about these friends of mine who walked with me up the mountain of the last few years, she really wanted to know about them. So I spent a good stretch of trail telling her about my closest friends. She asked names and details and I gushed. When the two of us finally reached the top, I was overwhelmed by the picture of my life and my dearest friends that God had shown to me in the climb.
On the way up “K” shared a lot about how difficult her home life is. Stories that are dark and heart breaking. Almost too heavy to bear. She doesn’t have friends like I do. Her family doesn’t love her the way mine loves me. Much of her climb is lonely and painful. “K” gave her life to Christ while she was at camp that week. She and I hugged before she got on her bus to head home; she had a new Bible tucked under her arm. She said it was unlikely that her home life would magically change. I nodded in agreed empathy. Yet we both decided hope could be found in the fact that she would never, ever have to “climb” alone again. “K” could find strength in Jesus’ words, “In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Then, as if on cue to end a novel with the perfect sentiment and sentence lingering in the air, she said, “And someone once told me – God is bigger than you think.”


~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 1 Comment
The Wind
God speaks to me at the beach.  Through the waves, the wind, the soft sand and sun.  I feel most alive while pounding out my worries as I walk along the coastline.  Today was like no other.  I started my walk with no particular destination and many thoughts on my mind that I hoped to sort out along my journey.  The sun was bright and the temperature was in the mid-eighties just a lovely way to end my trip!  Once I got to the shore I realized that the wind was much stronger than I had realized.  (No wonder no one was on the beach!)  Knowing that this would be my last opportunity for a walk before we left for home I ventured out.  I chose to walk against the wind at first.  This proved incredibly difficult.  The waves were masterful and cheered me on with their deep roars and crashing tumbles.  But the sand was fighting me every step of the way, the wind blew and sent stinging sand against my legs.  It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other.  Several times I thought, “I just need to turn around and go home!”  I knew though, that the longer I trudged the longer the joureny home would be with the wind against my back back, there I would not be fighting with the wind and the sand.  Finally when I could not take any more I turned around.  Amazingly, my walk back was a totally different experience.  Almost immediately I began to run.  The wind was just so powerful it was practically carrying me and moving me forward.  I had no reason to run.  I don’t mind running but hadn’t planned on running home, but unless I wanted to “fight” with the wind it just appeared to be the best option.  So I ran.  While running I was struck with a very powerful thought.  God has been teaching me about his will over my life and about his Spirit’s leading.  God impressed upon my heart, “See this is what it is like to be in step with my Spirit.  I am propelling you forward.  I am giving you the strength and the power.  Before it was your own strength that was taking you on your journey…on the way home I was giving you the energy and power to do it.”  There was such freedom and joy in my journey home.  Even though I was doing a “harder task” of running…it was simpler and I got home faster and I enjoyed the run much more.  It made me realize how important it is to be “in step” with God’s spirit and how He wants to guide and direct us. 
What does it look like to daily be “in step” with the Spirit?   So often I walk through life with sand stinging my eyes, hair flying everywhere, head down and walking a road that I was not intended to walk.  A simple change of my direction absolutely changes my perspective.  I feel light, free, and propelled by something far more powerful than my own person.   I pray that if you are feel the intensity of great G force winds that you would make a shift.  Go to the author of your life and ask Him to direct.  Let him carry you far beyond where you thought you might go on your own strength.   Thankfully there were no bumps and bruises incurred on my journey—just a gracious God who was waiting for me to make a shift and direction change.  

Wherever you on this journey of life know that you are loved.  The conversations of the Spirit and being “in step” can be confusing and overwhelming.  In the end, know that your Creator cares.  

The Great Easter Search…

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“On your mark, get set, go!” 
Twenty energetic children raced around the lawn scattered with bright, colorful Easter Eggs.  Aliene and Jim Thompson know the wonder and delight of a great search.  So, this past Easter Sunday they carefully distributed over 2000 eggs throughout their yard. Some were strategically hidden in tree limbs or under rocks; others were left in the grass to be tripped over by my 18-month-old son.
Just before the hunt began, my 4 year-old son looked at me, then looked at the big boys and girls who had clearly done this type of thing before, and cried,  “Mommy, will you help me? I am scared, I cannot do this on my own!”  Knowing that the yard was full of abundant treasures for him to discover, I lovingly told him, “I know you can do this buddy, I will hold your hand, but you can do this, go out there and try!”  What a tremendous pleasure it was to watch my child find egg after egg all by himself.  My husband and I stopped and celebrated with him at each new discovery.  Driving home I reflected on the smiles, and squeals of joy.  I knew it would be an Easter that we would not soon forget! 
Aliene Thompson is a dear friend of mine and the founder of RadicallyO Ministries.  (http://www.radicallyo.com/)  Her studies are focused on encouraging women to find truth on their own.  To seek Him and find Him.   Whether you have been going to church all your life and reading the Bible for years, or whether you don’t own a Bible and have never prayed before…I believe that God has something to say to each of us.  Personally.  I believe that there are many treasures waiting for us to discover in God’s Word.
            
For some, this is a sweet reminder, for others it seems far-fetched, but I believe that God has something to say to each of us personally.  Please hear me say, no matter where you are in life, God loves you and you are worthy of sitting at His feet and allowing your Heavenly Father to minister to your soul.
I could have stolen from my son that day.  I could have filled his basket myself.  I could have opened the treasures that he was intended to open.  But where would the adventure be?  Would he ever learn how to seek on his own?  The following Easter would he even know what to do with a lawn full of brightly decorated eggs?  Instead, the adventure was his, the learning was his, and the joy of finding was his. 
This Easter morning I pray that God will meet you wherever you are.  If your marriage is rocky or broken (and hence you are feeling broken), if you are angry, stressed, discouraged, depressed, overwhelmed, exhausted, tired of running (haha this is not a trainer’s joke), tired of living, tired for pretending, or just ready for a fresh perspective…may you SEEK AND FIND.   I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct you every step of the way.  Whether you open your Bible or call a girlfriend who does; whether you go online and check out Radically O, or facebook message me and ask where to get started…or whether you just shoot up a simple prayer:  “God help!”  He knows you, loves you, and will hear your cry.  God has great things to say, He loves you and is excited for your next courageous step in the journey.  There is a beautiful colorful world filled with hope and it starts with a simple step, a cry, a prayer, a call, a verse…
On your mark, get set, go… 

Hold On and ENJOY the Ride!

~ Jenni at 100 Cups of Coffee ~ 4 Comments

At Family Camp this past weekend I watched a clip I had seen many times before, but this time I saw it from a new perspective.  I had heard the story of Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, who was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and therefore had suffered severe brain damage and was told he would never have a normal life.   I had heard that his family was committed to give him a life that was filled with normalcy and love.   I had heard of Rick’s request for an opportunity to go and complete a 5k race…and that when he did this, he, for the first time “did not feel disabled”.  I had seen the images on utube and even heard them referenced across the nightly news.  Tonight though, I watched with new eyes the journey that this man began with his son 40 some years ago.  

What I had not known was that his father on their first 5k race ran and pushed his son in a wheelchair the entire way.  (What an image!)  What I had not known was that his father was a self proclaimed “porker” and had suffered from heart disease and was thrilled to simply cross the finish line and had planned to never attempt another race!
I watched with fresh eyes and I would like to encourage you to do the same.   Unless you have seen this video in the last week…please watch again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUQeUsqQuVc
This time around…I saw so much more.  As a trainer I saw the absolute magnitude of the task placed in front of the father.  I marveled at his sacrifice and commitment to something that is so physically, mentally, and emotionally grueling.  I now know the sheer volume of hours that were put in to train and the thought and energy that went in to preparing for one simple race—never mind the thousands that they have completed!  The courage, love, commitment, and passion of the father is powerful.  Yet, if I am honest, even though I did not have a clue when it came to the hours and discipline that it took, I did recognize the ultimate love and sacrifice of father to son. 

The part that I missed was the SON.  Rick Hoyt.  Rick Hoyt has a powerful message to women…and to me…and I missed it!   This whole thing started when Rick ASKED.  Rick dared to ask the impossible.  He asked his father to do something that was going to “cost” him something.   It was going to put his father in an inconvenient position.  His father had not always been a super fit dude who ran races…he was a typical overweight dad with heart disease.  Thankfully Rick did not have the filter or “know better”…he simply ASKED.  That “ask” lead to a complete life change for both father and son.
Rick also showed me something far greater…he was not apologetic.  Watching the father pulling his son through the water on that raft, watching him CARRY his son in the transitions, and then watching the father finish the race exhausted with nothing left is a physical marvel.  Rick at the end of the race is embracing every moment, his smile is contagious, his joy is obvious.  He was not at the end of the race leaning back toward his dad apologizing for the huge sacrifices that he made on his behalf to carry him through the race.  There was not an ounce of guilt or shame…he was thrilled and elated to be served and loved so unconditionally!  
Great, all interesting observations Jenni, but why are you so intrigued?!  I have lessons to learn from Rick Hoyt!  I don’t ask.  I don’t tell others my greatest desires.   I don’t ask for help along the way.  What Rick found was, that by asking, he gave his father a tremendous gift.  He gave his father a new outlet and way to serve his son.  He gave his father the opportunity to be his hands and feet.  He also gave his father additional years on his life!   His father would have missed a huge life-altering blessing if his son had not ASKED. 
I ran the USMC mud run last fall.  4.2 miles, insane obstacles and a lot of mud.  You race with a team of four…at the end one person is carried on a stretcher 400m.  I was the girl on the stretcher.  It was strange because I felt apologetic about my weight and the fact that they “had” to carry me.  I raced with 3 dudes and if anything they should have been thanking me!  Yet I felt bad knowing all that we had endured together and how exhausted we were; I hated for them to have the burden of carrying me an inch never mind 400m!  I never want to be an imposition.  I never want to be a burden or bother.  I apologize if the person behind me at the grocery store has one less item than me.   I apologize if I have to call a friend for a favor.  I apologize if I am I am in a bad place and others see me cry.  SERIOUSLY???  Does any of this sound familiar or is it just me?  With this fresh look at the father/son love story, Rick Hoyt taught me we don’t have to apologize.  We can actually find joy when someone serves us and we are given the opportunity to be carried.  We can let go of the control long enough to see that ride as a gift!  We can smile, receive the praise, cheers, and simply cross the finish line being carried.  God places people at just the right times in our life to help carry us through the transitions, others who will push us up a hill on a run, or pull us through rough waters.  We can ask them for help…or simply not apologize when they serve us…we humble ourselves to truly receive His best. 
We are so quick to do it on our own.  We try move through life without the help of others.  We want things to look and seem perfect and that we have it all together.  Rick has a secret.  Utter dependency is best.  Asking for help and sharing our dreams and fears may not be safe and may seem scary but what if Rick had NOT told his dad his heart’s desire?  What if he had just continued on content with the stop at the 5k?  He would not have traveled the world.  He would not have felt SO alive.  He would not have given His father the opportunity to love and serve his son.  He also would not have given us such an incredible picture of humility and grace.  I need to take more lessons from Rick Hoyt.  

Blessings,
Jenni