Stewardship

stew·ard·ship - The conducting, supervising, or managing of something ; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.

from the Merriam-Webster dictionary

This month, we celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd). It is a recognition of our duty to care for our planet and environment. As inhabitants of this world, we are called to be good stewards of the earth. This means that we should not allow materialism, monetary gain, greed, selfishness or laziness to dictate how we live and what we leave behind. Unfortunately, the Western (American) culture has placed too great an emphasis on our own personal comfort and prosperity and ignored the long-term effects of our hedonism on the planet. We have created a disposable society of convenience with little regard for the consequences of such a lifestyle. Now, when it may be too late to turn back, we are FINALLY recognizing the need to "go green." However, this movement will most likely not be put into extensive practice until we have exhausted all of our natural resources; until the big oil and coal companies have made every penny they can squeeze out of us.

I implore us as a nation and as a planet, to institute mandates for an immediate transition to clean, renewable energy sources and recycling. Each person must do his or her part. One person at a time, we can transform our world. Change to LED and CFL (compact fluorescent lighting throughout your home. Turn lights and appliances OFF when not in use. Support the development of electric cars, lawnmowers and other earth-friendly, efficient vehicles. Install solar panels, windmills, turbines and geothermal heating/cooling systems in your homes. Our consumer and dollar-driven society does not promote self-sufficient eco-friendly products because they lose money when we are not continually dependant on them. We cannot let that hinder us. The time to act is now. It is the only moment we have.

Let's stop filling our landfills with unnecessary waste. Let's stop releasing pollutants into the air, water and ground. Let's stop allowing big business to use its monetary influence to break the law, toxify the planet and get away with murder. Our planet is dying. Forests are being eradicated. Polar ice caps are melting as a result of global warming. Inferior air quality is causing asthma at unprecedented rates. Holes in the ozone layer and causing increased incidence of skin cancer. Our bodies are becoming host for a variety of toxins from the food and water we consume. America is touted as having one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, yet that has not averted the fact that America is one of the unhealthiest countries in the world.

Not only are we called to care for our planet, but to care for one another and ourselves. Caring for others means that those who are blessed with more give to those who have less. We must fight wars not for monetary gain or control of power, but in order to stop injustice; to thwart human suffering; to free the oppressed and the heal the broken. Boycott stores and companies which utilize child labor or sweat shops. Refuse to purchase items made in China (it's not easy!) or other countries which have inhumane business practices. Shop at stores that support fair trade. Sponsor a child. Donate to a charity.

Caring for ourselves means that we dutifully eat healthfully. We must treat our bodies with respect. Consider a raw, organic diet. Shun the processed sugars, flours and "convenience" foods. Relish the divine experience of retraining your body by changing your diet to living, vibrant, healthy foods. Support organic farmers. Eat less (or no) meat. Not only do we need to eat in a more life-giving and plant-sustaining way, but regular exercise is also a gift to our bodies. We must not be gluttonous or lazy. We need to walk more. Bicycle to work. Run. Use a manual lawn mower or food processor. Rely on your muscles rather than unnecessarily utilizing more electricity. Increasing our strength and conditioning our muscles makes us more energetic, more positive, less prone to injury, illness and disease and also prolongs our life.

I believe that we should always leave a place better than how we found it. This should not only apply to hotel rooms, restaurants, friends' homes or offices, but to our entire universe. This includes our bodies and our environment. I know that it is my goal to be a good steward of all the many blessings that I have been given and it is also my goal to leave this world better than how I found it. Make it your goal too. Together, we can change the world.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Psalms 8:3-8

2009 Bay City St. Patrick's Day Race

Before the race.

I ran my first 8K race (and first race of the year) on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 11:45 am. My goal a.) was to finish and b.) to try and finish in 45 minutes or less. Success on both points! My time was 42:24. Now my goal is to get my 8:33 mile closer to a 7:30 mile. I missed getting my name in the newspaper by 10 seconds! There were over 3600 (3422 finishers) entrants in the entire race (5K run/walk and 8K run). I placed 11th in my age group (out of 32 women ages 35-39) and 330 overall out of the 600 entrants in the 8K. I have a lot to work toward this summer and for next year.

The finish comes into view!

The clock is only at 42 minutes--cool!

I am NOT going to let anyone pass me at the last minute.

David (my 16-yr old son), his friend Aaron and I after the race.
David ran 35:25 and Aaron was just a couple of minutes behind him.

Why I Run

I would never have considered myself an athlete. I played baseball on a boys' team when I was in the 3rd grade. I played volleyball in 5th and 6th grade. I played basketball in 7th grade and I was a cheerleader for a couple of years too. But when I got to high school, I got seriously involved in academics, band, drama, and every extra curricular club imaginable, but had no interest in sports whatsoever. I could barely run a block without gasping for air and my face turning an embarrassing shade of beet red. I used to have dreams occasionally that I was running a long distance and how good it felt, but when I woke up, I knew that I just wasn't capable of such feats.

"I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. " Ecclesiastes 9:11

A couple of years ago, I started doing 2 mile power walks, pushing my two young ones in the double stroller. We would go for a walk every day, weather depending. One day, I decided that I wanted to run. So, sans children, I went running. I lasted about 5 minutes before I had to slow down to a fast walk to catch my breath, and then jogged to the best of my ability to finish the route. After doing this a couple times a week, I found that I was able to go from feeling like my heart was going to explode in my neck and that I couldn't breathe to being able to comfortably take on a mile or two at a time. Once you push yourself past the barriers, past the pain, through the "I can't do this", there is something incredibly empowering about doing something you didn't think you were capable of doing.

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1b

I ran my first road race, a 5K, last summer. I had never run over 2 miles before in my life. This was my first race and the farthest distance I had ever taken on. But I knew I could do it. As always, my goal is not to win or to set any records, but to finish. And that I accomplished. I ran the race in just over 27 minutes. It was about 80 degrees and 90% humidity that day. I felt a great sense of accomplishment and empowerment. I was actually a runner!

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." I Corinthians 9:24

I ran my second race a month or so later and my time was now down to around 24 minutes. Again, not striving to gain medals, but to improve my own time and to finish the race. Mission accomplished.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Titus 4:7

I continued to run until the weather got too cold. We moved into a new home, so the move kept us very busy as well. I took on an indoor training regime with the elliptical and stationary bike, doing anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour a day. Then, finally, the snow melted and it was time to head back outside for the real exercise. I got my first run in of the year on March 6th. I went 3.3 miles. My legs were SO sore the next day...and the next day...and the next. I didn't know HOW they could hurt so bad when I was exercising them every single day for an hour, but apparently, running is much different than what I was doing. I pushed myself through the pain, continuing to do elliptical and stationary bike for a couple of days while outside, we had about 3 straight days of pouring rain. On March 9th, I got back outside and ran another 3.3 miles. This time it wasn't so bad. My legs didn't hurt afterward. Well, not nearly as much as they had before. Maybe I could do this after all. On March 13th, I ran over 5 miles in 52 minutes. Still no pain. I have been running now at least 3 times a week and doing indoor cross training on the days I don't make it outside. On Sunday, March 22nd, I am running in the first major road race of the year and my first 8K. I would like to run it in around 45 minutes, but ultimately, my goal, as always, is to finish.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:24

When I run, I feel as though I have overcome my limitations. I feel empowered. I feel strong and confident. I love the freedom of being outdoors with no kids, no housework, no responsibilities. I love listening to my MP3's and feeling the wind blow against my face. When I run, it affirms that I can do anything that I set my mind to. Why do I run? Because I can.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13

Lunch

My typical lunch/mid-afternoon meal usually consists of a one-cup dish of my own custom trail mix. I only eat if I am really hungry. If I had breakfast, then I am not usually hungry until dinner. These nuts and berries are packed full of flavor, texture and energy-sustaining nutrients. Sometimes this is all I will eat in one day and it keeps me going for 24 hours. For a smaller snack, I will just eat 1/2 a dish.


Here is the recipe:

Jennifer's Trek & Trail Mix

1 lb. raw pecans
1 lb. raw brazil nuts
1 lb. raw macadamia nuts
1 lb. raw walnuts
1 lb. raw sunflower seeds
1 lb. raw pepitas
1 lb. raw almonds
1 lb. soy nuts (roasted, unsalted)
1/2 lb. dried goji berries
1/2 lb. dried blueberries
1/2 lb. dried cranberries
1/2 lb. raw cacao nibs

Thoroughly combine all ingredients in large bowl and then package in airtight container(s). Store in freezer for maximum freshness. Yields 10 pounds of yummy, healthy trail mix! Each serving is about 4-6 oz. to a one-cup size bowl.

Breakfast

This is basically what I eat for breakfast everyday with slight variations. The nutritional value and taste are phenomenal. It gives me sustained energy and helps me feel satiated throughout the day.

I wanted to post the recipe here and also the incredible nutritional values.

FLAXSEED MEAL - CHIA SEED HOT BREAKFAST CEREAL

1/2 cup flaxseed meal
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons Organic Hemp Protein + Fiber
1 tablespoon soy nut butter (Carb Not Beanit Butter)
1 tablespoon sugar-free syrup
1 cup boiling water