Prison From Proximity

She used to live in Sacramento, but recently Laura Ling traveled to South Korea. Apparently, while there, her proximity to the border of North Korea earned her a 12 year sentence to hard labor in prison.

CNN reported, “Two U.S. journalists who were detained in North Korea while covering the plight of defectors living along the China-North Korea border have been sentenced to 12 years in labor prisons, the country's state-run media said Monday.
The Central Court of North Korea sentenced Laura Ling and Euna Lee for the "grave crime they committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing," the Korean Central News Agency said.”

Imagine the morning Laura woke up. While wanting to report on Human Trafficking, her life was derailed by a dictators demand’s and ill will to get a pawn of a global game of political chess.

But that is not what I am writing. She went to prison for proximity.

What if this was your life? Think of the numbers of people who are imprisoned for proximity to that which steals life by forcing them to labor towards freedom.

I have been there. I’ve called the prison of my mind home. I’ve hung trapped by all that I can’t leave behind. U2 called it Stuck in a Moment. Others are imprisoned by the proximity to that which is less than best. An enemy called average is their master.

Some it's an online connection to the seductive. They have been imprisoned by the proximity to their mouse. Each web click, they navigate closer to that which keeps them longer than they were willing to stay. Ironically, they are entangled in the world wide web of destruction.

Others are locked away in solitary confinement of isolation. Each day, though thousands surround them, they are alone.

What imprisons you? What is it that you are to close to that will, over time, infect you with a inevitable derailment into having to work harder than needed?

Proximity can imprison.

Live free.

Run for a Reason

Steve Lewis, the Principal of Oak Ridge Elementary stared at his steaming cup of coffee with sheer determination. There was a lingering heaviness in the elementary school’s hallways because of a recent decision to cut millions from the State’s budget for education. Add to it a report of 800,000 children losing their health care because of California’s budget woes, and hopelessness was expected.
Yet Steve stared back at me with focus and tenacity.

“Are you OK?” I asked it slowly, referring to the recent Sacramento Bee article that described the cuts.

“Without Equal Start and Capital Christian Center, I would have left this school along time ago. There are still lives to change.” Steve Lewis was convincing.

Leaving his office, I walked through the campus as kids quickly ran to their class. Each face told a story. I saw Frederick. The burly sixth grader is a teddy bear who growls. When I see him, we lock eyes and smile. We have this unspoken game of who can smile the longest without making a sound. He wins. It hasn’t always been that way. It wasn’t until the week after the 100 miler, when I limped across campus, did he first say “hello.” For over two years, I said hello, and he ignored me. He was one of the first that we enrolled in health care. Prior to the 100, 12% had health care. Today, more than 82% are enrolled.

Alondra ran passed me. Petite and a constantly smiling, she paused to show off her new wired frame glasses. Our team took her to get her eye glasses to help her see clearer. When we told her she could pick any pair she wanted, Alondra’s already wide smile, expanded. Her glasses are pink.

Each child scurried to class and I realized the culture of Hope is what gave Mr. Lewis endurance. Equal Start is the visible of the invisible power of a simple gospel concept; take care of the poor. In scripture, over and over, Jesus directly commanded those that love Him to love the poor. In Heaven he was the King of Creation. On earth he walked as the King of Compassion. Jesus took care of kids. And we want to follow his lead.

Mr. Lewis told me the state test scores for Oak Ridge Elementary took a double digit increased gains in every measurable category last year. He said it was because of CCC’s influence on campus. He then asked me if I was ready to run another 100 miles on behalf of 450 kids who need sustained care. Before I could answer, I looked down at my broken tibia in a cast. My heart screamed “yes” and my still healing body said “not this year.”

Replicated & Sustainable
The need to replicate the support and bring sustainable solutions for each child in the school was placed squarely in our lap. The primal instinct within me as a father and a runner is to find energy in a cause. For those that run, jog, or walk, a cause can be the voice of commitment that wakes you up each morning.
Have you wanted to get in shape?

Have you ever wanted run/jog in a race?
Have you ever wanted to run a marathon?
Maybe it was a 5K or a half or full marathon of 26.2 miles.
Maybe you have already ran in a race, but have never attached a reason to it.

On behalf Oak Ridge Elementary and 450 kids, now you can run for a reason.

The Extra Mile Run 2009 is an opportunity to change the life of an inner-city child. Become an Extra Mile Runner and be part of a team of runners participating in the 2009 California International Marathon. Each Extra Mile Runner will raise awareness and financial support for EVERY child enrolled at Oak Ridge. Equal Start cares for children who are in desperate need of academic supplies, school shoes and clothes, enhanced nutrition, and on-going health care.

In December of 2009, nearly 30,000 runners will pour down the streets from Historic Folsom to Downtown Sacramento in the California International Marathon. More than four hundred of those runners will run on behalf of an individual child from Oak Ridge Elementary.

Our goal is to match one runner to every student.

IMAGINE RUNNING ON BEHALF OF A CHILD IN NEED.
IMAGINE EVERY CHILD HAVING AN ADVOCATE.
IMAGINE RUNNING FOR A REASON.

Go the Extra Mile
As a runner with a reason, you can choose your distance. Our team of certified personal trainers has created specific walking and running groups with personalized running plans based on levels of fitness.

On August 1, all runners and joggers will begin training, each at their own pace and goals. After 30 days of training, our experienced team (who has trained over 100 runners have never had a runner not finish a race) will have a one-on-one consultation with every runner to advise and suggest what distance, time, and pace is applicable for the December 6 California International Marathon.

If you are not able to run the entire 26.2 mile race, grab a friend and partner to run a two-person relay. Or grab two more runners and divide the 26.2 mile course into a four-person relay. Walkers can be part of the 2.62 mile MaraFUNrun. Regardless of your ability and fitness level, begin training today. There is a place for you. Secure your spot as an Extra Mile Runner, train and change the course of a child’s life.

When you register you will run to raise the standard of living for an inner-city child. Each registered Extra Mile Runner will receive access to beginner and intermediate marathon training schedules, core training guides, cross-training options, access to online forums to share your success, weekly emails, fund-raising tips and the opportunity to pick the age and grade of the child you sponsor. The registration fee is $10 and you get a Be Change t-shirt to start training in.

The Goal
Extra Mile Runners collect sponsored dollars and cents for every mile they run. The goal is for each runner to raise $1000 to cover back pack, academic supplies, school shoes and clothes, enhanced nutrition, and on-going health care. One hundred percent of what is raised goes to secure these needs for every student.

Full Marathon: 1 Runner @ 26.2 Miles
Half Marathon: 2 Runners @ 13.1 Miles
Marathon Relay: 4 Runners @ 5.9 Miles, 7.6 Miles, 7 Miles, 5.7 Miles
MarFUNrun: 1 Runner @ 2.62 Miles

Where Do I Start?
More appropriately, is “when do I start?” Begin a cardio-fitness workout as soon as possible. Consult your physician if you are not currently active. If you are active, build a base that can jog three miles in less than 33 minutes by August 1. We will take it from there.

Then, join us at the Run for a Reason Expo on Sunday, July 12 at 1:00-2:00 PM in the Chapel at Capital Christian Center. A complete overview of The Extra Mile 2009 will be given and The Running Zone Shoe Company will teach on “How to Get the Right Running Shoe Fit.” An afternoon of opportunity…

Visit www.extramilerun.com to register to run and get more information.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”