I Did Not Kiss Dating Goodbye

This is a random post, but those who went to middle and high school with me, or another Christian school, will appreciate this.
While searching for Beth Moore on Amazon today, Josh Harris's book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" popped up under "You May Also Like"-you know, the section that recommends books based on your search.
It reminded of when I was in 6th grade and the teachers at BL had the brillant idea that the entire middle school should be subjected to Josh Harris. The entire middle school filed into a church sanctuary and listened to Josh Harris explain why he believed Christians shouldn't date. Being in the 6th grade, I wasn't anywhere near actual dating, so I kinda tuned it out (Why date when you can't drive? Seriously, there is nothing cool about having your mom drop you off at Dutch Square Cinemas so that you can go to the movies with that really cute guy...and 8 of your friends, only to be picked up 3 hours later by your mom).
Then at the end, Josh took questions from the audience. Someone, I think it was Adam Neely, asked Josh, "So what age do you think we should start dating?" Josh got this exasperated look and exclaimed, "I kissed dating goodbye! Are you getting that?! There is no right age to start dating!"
Josh did admit he was dating someone at the time (I think he called it "courting" but I am sure there was food and conversation involved, therefore a date by all accounts). Apparently he married the same girl, so it all worked out in the end.

The 9th Step

I read an interesting article about Alcoholics Anonymous the other day. It's common knowledge that AA requires members to complete a Twelve Step Program during the road to recovery. Step Nine of the Program is particularly interesting to me: Make direct amends to people you've harmed wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

As Christians, this is a useful step we should incorporate in our own lives. I am ashamed to think about the people I have harmed, with my words and actions. I had a friendship that I valued for 11 years, only to let a disagreement keep us from speaking for the past three years. Guys in my past treated me with more thoughtfulness than I deserved from them, only to have me behave callously careless in return. I can think of countless occasions when my untamed tongue has wounded others, and I have been too prideful to ask for forgiveness.

I realize I may never have the chance to actually apologize to every person I have wronged. But I am admitting that I have harmed people and I was wrong. And that's the first step.

Ready to Run

Do you have an escape? Meaning, no matter what's going on, what kind of mood you're in, is there something you can do that is just for you-selfish, but in a good way?

My escape is running. I lace up my sauconys, grab my ipod and take off. Whether I run for 20 minutes or over an hour, it always has the same effect for me. Whether I feel stressed, overwhelmed, upset or defeated, running is the one thing that makes everything seem right in the world. Even when I'm in a great mood, running makes me feel punch drunk happy.

Running is also my "Me Time." Sometimes I will take the dogs with me (few things are funnier than watching a 10 lb. schnoodle run, but Mia could run for days if I let her), but sometimes I just want it to be me and the pavement. There I can be alone with my thoughts. Plus running is great for my health, both physicially and mentally. As Reese Witherspoon explained in Legally Blonde, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't. " So maybe it's healthy for Chad that I run too. :)

With Chad's new job giving him normal hours, I'm committed to getting up at 6am and running. Now that the weather is warming up, it's the perfect time to start this resolution. I encourage you to find an escape, if you don't already have one.