Leaven Leaving

Thru-hikers are a rare breed. They choose to walk several miles on the same long-distance trail, end-to-end. It takes weeks, months for these courageous (foolish?) souls to complete there journey. For several days in a row, they wear the same clothes and eat the same package calorie-rich foods. Living in Oregon, I have at least heard of the Pacific Crest Trail , but thru-hikers get their kicks all over the globe. Because they walk every day, the miles really do add up. But what happens when they decide to stay in camp for a day? Or they leave the trail for a nearby town and replenish their stores? Or, worse, they become ill and cannot carry on? On those days, they don't walk any miles. That is where the term, "taking a zero," comes from. Whether they are compelled to or it's completely voluntary, they walk zero miles that day. Sunday came and went with so much activity and distraction, that by the time the dust settled, I was too tired to do anything--it was the e

I don't normally take the advice of TV personalities, but I came across something that was very insightful. I can point to this very list to help describe where I was in relation to food. Now that I try to follow the plan--eating every 2-3 hours--I can attest to the fact that there are different types of hunger. Moving from Emotional Hunger to True Hunger has been the most difficult part of this journey. Admittedly, there are times when I am low and the emotion takes hold. In my current phase--the maintaining phase--I find it more difficult to fight it off. One more reason to keep running!

I noticed yesterday that my old running shoes had dust all over them! Yet when I put them on again today, I didn't bother to dust them off. I say let the road do it! After all, it is the journey that gets me to the destination. Today was a scorcher. It reached 94 degrees in my neck of the woods. When I returned from my run I had to peel off my clothes! I felt a little sore from yesterday. I felt muscles that I haven't felt in awhile. It felt good. Afterward, crunches, leg lifts, pushups, all felt good. I've been working on the lighter, now it's time to work on the fitter.

I am a runner. Well, I ran today. Does that make me a runner? I suppose by running I am a runner. Yes, I am a runner. I have been off of my "diet" for a few months and the new goal is to maintain my weight loss. I started walking and disc golfing regularly. But I am looking for more ways to burn more calories. So I started running. I've run before. I never kept it up. It felt different today. I actually thought, "Hey, I can do this!" Yes, I am a runner.

Seventy pounds. Progress.

My friend Janette is Jewish and we go to coffee sometimes, play chess, talk about various creative projects. You know, we're friends. She's Jewish and I am a pastor so religion often comes up and we have a go at it. In one conversation, we talked what leaven is: In Juda ism the term for unleavened bread is Matzah. Matzah is used to symbolize the restless flight from the exodus of Egypt. Since we could not stay in place during exodus to let our bread rise we eat Matzah to remember the plight of being homeless and wandering the desert. That is why no leavened bread is eaten during Passover. (This gets real strick with all types of food. The matzah must be baked within 18 minutes of the flour and water mixing or it is not considered unleavened.) She adds that the literal definition of Matzah is "unleavened bread." Matzah symbolizes purity and humility and a person not puffed up on egoism . I called this blog Leaven Leaving because this journey I am on is a process