In the Book of Dan I mention that the often times the hardest part of a run is walking out the door; well that was Wednesday. But I did walk out the door and once I started and the next 6 miles were magic indeed. Man I love runs like that - I do, I do, I do! A few weeks ago we ran the St. Louis Marathon on a Sunday and in a few months we'll run Peachtree in Atlanta on a Sunday; thousands of people taking to the (closed) streets and running for a myriad of reasons. But in the end ALL will be healthier, stronger, leaner, and happier....well except those who didn't train properly - they'll be pretty miserable for a while. When we ran St. Louis, the marathon course passed a number of churches and passing one particular Episcopal church we witnessed 2 priests out on the side of the road in full vestments sprinkling Holy Water on the runners and blessing them. What?! These guys weren't IN church? Last Saturday one particular church in Nashville had their full 'contemporary' choir out performing for the runners. Every year in Atlanta the priest from St. Philips is out with Holy Water blessing the runners - In fact he's out there no matter which day of the week Peachtree is held. I can't believe he'd do this as opposed to being IN church with his members, his parish. The Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta hosts a 'pasta by the plaza' pre-race pasta dinner for runners each year on the eve of Peachtree. Notice the trend? The level on involvement of these churches in a community's athletic life. Okay, Danny, what's your point? 1 Corinthians 6:19 : Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 : Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Romans 12:1 :I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. I think the majority of churches in Birmingham are hypocritical - period! Every year Independent Presbyterian Church gets 'pissy' about the marathon going by their church and interrupting their services. I've had complaints (and I don't even have any official capacity with Mercedes Marathon) from people at First United Methodist and the Episcopal Church of the Advent. Here's the deal, CHURCHES! Listen up! These runners, these people, care about their bodies, they are running for their health and glorifying THEIR Temple. Many are raising THOUSANDS of dollars for those less fortunate or research to combat diseases and they are able to enjoy the blessing of a healthy body, CELEBRATE that blessing, and LIVE it. As opposed to going into a cliquish enclave of selectivity and exclusion while criticising others who choose to worship in a different way, a different venue. Running, marathons, health, and celebrations like Mercedes, St. Louis, Peachtree (to name a few) are NOT going away. The cities of New York, Atlanta, Chicago, London, (to name a few of HUNDREDS) have churches MUCH larger and just as 'important' (yes, I know the church is the wildwood (love that song) is just as important as Notre Dame) and these cities shut THEIR streets down once a year. C'mon Birmingham! Why not embrace the celebration? Runners may appreciate it so much that they come worship in your church on other Sundays. Why not have your choir sing? Why not have 'holy water' stations? Why not join in the celebration as opposed to being angry and 'put out' at something that brings others so much joy? And by others, I include leukemia patients who benefit, the kids of Make a Wish, Kid One and the Bell Center - they benefit hugely from the runners fund raising of the Mercedes Weekend. Lastly, take a look at yourself - yeah, in the mirror, Mr. 'Church person that I'm offending that I'm talking about'. Do YOU need to be walking or running? What kind of temple are offering up? Are you 'destroying' His Temple with your lack of exercise and nutritional restraint (didja like the way I worded that?), not judging; just asking. Personally I intend to beg our priest to participate in next years Mercedes and our church is a block OFF the course. I think we (our church) will participate. I am personally inspired by the actions of the members of St. Philip's, Ponce de Leon, and the other churches in Nashville and St. Louis. Isn't that great? THEIR actions inspired me. We all are different and have different calls, feelings, reactions - but THEIR actions struck a chord in me. One that has long simmered (Birmingham churches inactivity and hypocrisy) and (new chord) a call to POSITIVE action to involve my church. Personally, I think that's the kind of life, the kind of call that our Lord meant for us to follow. It's a small thing, but cumulatively the actions of every Mercedes SUNDAY changes lives. People run happy, lose weight, get healthy, raise money, donate money, fight disease, give kids a better shot AT life, and gain confidence and power in their own lives, IT CHANGES LIVES... and that is a fact. I may sound judgemental, but I don't think so, I'm right. And on those Sunday's I miss church 'proper' because I'm running in a bigger, prettier and (oftentimes) more powerful, meaningful 'church'; I feel truly blessed, humble, and grateful. Eric Liddell in 'Chariots of Fire' was deeply conflicted about racing in the Olympics on a Sunday. As he thought and prayed this was revealed to him, (instead of 'fast' insert your own running phrase), "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."