Thoughts About Distance Running and Hogwarts

The houses of Hogwarts are particularly interesting as each house emphasizes a particular character trait.

Slytherin values leadership, charm, and charisma. These character traits are obviously of great value, as history has proven that leadership is essential for direction setting, change agents, and ultimately getting things done. A single man with leadership changes the course of history. Jesus, William Wilberforce, and Martin Luther to name a few. Stalin and Hitler show the power of influence and leadership too, but in a negative sense.

Ravenclaw values intelligence, curiosity, creativity, and knowledge. Like Slytherin, these characteristics are of great value. I can't count the many mistakes I've made in my life that could have been avoided through wisdom. And then to contemplate that you can multiply that by the population of the universe. Intelligence has solved many of our problems in the form of technology. Great inventors, such as Edison, have changed society as we know it. We live longer, several diseases that were deadly are now gone, food is plentiful, and communication over distances is easy. With technology, however, has come more efficient ways of killing and destruction.

Huffelpuff, while being the laughing stock of the school, is probably closest to my own heart. This house values effort of trying ones best and experiencing the freedom that comes along with it. To be who you are and follow your heart. To this day, there is not that may things in which I truly tried my best at – even relationships. I wonder how different this world would look like if we stopped worrying about what others think of us and were our true selves. At the very least, we would be considerably more satisfied. One thing to consider, however, is the fact that even when we try our very best, we can still fail – from another perspective. As a high school teacher and I ultimately failed (student's test scores were too low) and was let go, but in my psyche, I know I tried my best so I can be at peace with the result, and experience satisfaction.

And that brings me to Gryffindor – who values integrity, nerve, and courage. I believe that all of those character traits listed before are of great value, are to be pursued, are to be stewarded, are to be developed, and are to be celebrated. But courage, according to J.K. Rowling, is to be valued more and is what is needed most in this world. I agree with her.

Recently I was brought to tears reading about the Boston Marathon bombings. Certainly the deaths of 3 individuals was gripping, but what moved me the most was the stories of those who helped – the dozens of individuals who ran towards the explosion to move rubble and aid those who were bleeding out. These laymen, soldiers, and paramedics undoubtedly saved lives. It is easy to see courage in physical, life or death situations, but I've come to the conclusion that real courage occurs in our everyday life all the time. Everyday there are figurative explosions that goes off, and I'm not proud to say that many times I have ran away from them. It takes courage to speak the truth or to have loving actions. To be honest, being a good father scares the shit out of me, but there is some level of peace that I experience now – I'm not a father currently, and God is at work in my heart and has grace for me when I do fail. I digress.

Character traits do not occur appear all of a sudden. Sure, certain individuals start at a different point, but character is ultimately developed. So that raises the question, “how do we become more courageous?” We become more courageous through practice, by making daily decisions to step into fear, and through faith, make a courageous action. Distance running is the most gutsy sport around. The fear of the starting line and pistol. The mental battle during a competition – where a voice always seems to say, “you can't do it,” or “just give up.” Not to mention the daily workouts, where just hearing the workout is anxiety inducing, let alone making a conscious decision to do the workout.

I've been in a race where my opponent lost before the race even started. He was too afraid to even compete. I still feel sorry for him. Just kidding.

These experiences builds character like none other. To have faith in light of potential failure, and then to take that faith and really hold on to it, which leads to courageous action.

So all that I ask of you is that you'd be courageous, because there will be explosions in your life where you will have the option to run away, to quit, to give up. But don't because you are a distance runner.