“any fool can be happy. It takes a man with real heart to make beauty out of the stuff that makes us weep.”
So much going on...Let's get to it.
Last Friday I was fortunate enough to be invited to share on the ABC affiliate here in Portland--channel 2 KATU. AM Northwest is a morning show after Good Morning America and I was excited to talk about new things happening, Ultraman Canada, and training. Below is a link to the interview if you would like to watch it.
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| My daughter snapped a few photos during the show.http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/Endurance-Athlete--Ultra-Ironman-Competitor-Christian-Isakson-212504621.html |
A few Sundays ago after Church our family had to 'divide and conquer'. I was off to speak at a mens youth group at another church, my son was dropped off at martial arts/tricking class, and my wife & daughter were headed home for a few hours to chill out. Plans were to sync up again in a few and hit the movies. Days like this are special for us all here at team Isakson --the amount of training I'm doing now leading into Ultraman Canada is consuming-it's getting close.
What was going to be a good day.... turned out to be horrible.
Rhonda and Evelyn walked into our home and were not met with the usual tapping and prancing of our Boston Terrier's feet. Weird??? Evelyn giggled and noticed our dog was sleeping on the floor of the living room sprawled out--her hind legs visible from behind the couch. My wife noticed something different.
Leslie (yes, my son named the dog)...was dead.
Somehow Leslie managed to get into our recycling bin and wedge her head inside a yogurt container. Poor little dog died what she loved doing...eating. My daughter was hysterical. I mean it...she was devistated. I phoned home after speaking to the youth group and could hear screaming in the background.
"Leslie is dead!!!"
"What?!..How??"
Rhonda told me what she had found, and indicated Leslie had been there a while. I hurried home knowing how sad it would be when I arrived.
I say this carefully, but..we are not 'pet' people. For many reasons we just haven't been big on having pets. I'll keep it at that. My son had begged for 2 years straight to get a dog and we refused. Many reasons really--our schedule, time, lifestyle. I also refused to have a dog and not take care of it--just really never appealed to us.
Eventually Rhonda and I caved & circumstances led us to finding a Boston/French Bulldog mix. She was the coolest little dog ever. I started to change and we all began to love that fat little, kind, lovable dog so very much. Four years we spent with her, and grew fond of horrible breath, horrible gas, and Leslie's kind eyes. She really was a part of us. I never ever thought I would say this--but when I walked into the house to find my daughter in tears holding her lifeless body--I hurt. I was very, very sad. I knew I would miss that dog.
What a fluke occurrence. The container was big enough to cover her face and get lodged on her head behind her ears where it was hard to get air. I could not believe it as I patted her belly and knew my son would be heart broken.
It really, really, really......really sucked.
Picking up Ian and telling him the news was horrible.
Burying her was horrible.
The rest of the week was horrible.
It was extremely tough to see Ian and Evelyn so very sad. Rhonda and I were hurting too. Questions that would seem easy to answer-were not. It's just a dog...right?? Nope.
I never thought I'd feel like this--all because of that little mass of fat. The week brought tons of sadness, discussion, tears, and reflection. I never, ever, thought we would have a dog. I never thought I would grow to love it. I never thought it would hurt to have to dig a hole and place her in it. I never thought I would struggle, despite my faith in God, to have an answer for my twelve year old son when he asked through his uncontrollable tears and inaudible words..."Why did this have to happen Dad?"
We prayed together a lot. Not because we couldn't handle Leslie dying, but more so how thankful we were to have had her in our life for a while and how fun she was to be with. We prayed how thankful we were to be with each other, and how it made it less heavy. Throughout the week during my training I kept reflecting on that sentence that was seared in my head..."Never thought I would".
I decided to make a list of ten things I "Never thought I would" and just see where it ended up. Wasn't tough, and it grew larger than ten quickly. Decided to narrow down the ones specifically relating to 'sport', but first share a few of the others, the ones that matter the most. Plus..kinda helped through the crappy feeling of Leslie being gone.
*Never thought I would end up living with the true love of my life and honest, no kidding best friend.
*Never thought I would have a son that wants so bad to be me and ignore my failings.
*Never thought I would have a daughter more beautiful, complicated, and wonderful than a field of flowers.
*I am ashamed to admit this..but, at one time I never thought I would desire to follow Jesus Christ as much I desire now.
*Never thought I would actually enjoy a cup of coffee and walking around Target over 'going out'.
*Never thought someday I would prefer the Food Network over MTV.
*Never...ever.....ever thought I would love growing old as much as I do.
In relation to 'sport', again....narrowed down a few.
Never thought I would...
1. Understand I do have to go slow to get fast.
2. Realize how important sleep is and as I age, I need more. (well at least a little more)
3. Grasp the importance of proper running form.
4. Have to take little bites first-even though I have a big mouth.
5. Take time to talk to athletes that are better, faster, and stronger and ask for their help.
6. Be level headed enough to give advice back to others when I've grown faster, stronger, better.
7. Be fortunate enough to have AMAZING SPONSORS like RYU, ORBEA, LIVING FUEL,THE ATHLETES LOUNGE, VUELTA WHEELS. I mean that with all my heart.
8. Race around the World, to eventually help around the world.
9. Be an Ironman.
10. Prepare to compete in Ultraman.
**I never thought I would come to grasp the idea that sport is just that...sport. It's not life. Funny how the death of a little dog made us all just step back and think.
If sport was taken from me tomorrow, I'll reflect on the privilege of taking part--but (this took years) it's not everything. Understand---I love to race, train, compete, everything that's involved, but, God help me if I place it where it should not be. Yeah, I skirt the line during big training blocks and have the support to do so. But, above family? My relationship with Christ?...no freaking way.
I believe the blessing of getting to be where I'm at is related to the understanding of where sport should be. Believe me...this is a struggle.
On a similar note, I get how I've been wired. I'm SO, SO, SO, thankful I'm built to be an Endurance Athlete, and I'll strive to be the best possible. I will NEVER quit. I won't waste a second wishing to be a golfer, b-baller, q-back.... I'm built to hurt, and to keep going. Never....ever thought I would say that. But it's the truth. I love to push, I'm grateful for this.
Few more things here.
The Taxi Initiative is still moving forward, and this is awesome. My fundraising for the team to Haiti and Mountian Top Ministries is still full on, so please go here to see how you can help.
Last week Rhonda and I met with the Ameena Project. An amazing orginization that works in Kenya. Meeting Ian and Shari was a moment I won't forget. We hit it off and will be teaming up together for a really, really, big event. I'll have much more information on this as the details fall into place. I'll also share a lot more about the Ameena Project.
Farmington Gardens has been kind enough to extend an invite and allow a fundraiser to take place in the future. More Than Sport and Chris Lieto will be involved and the idea of the Taxi Initiative 'giving lifts' is taking shape. More very soon.
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