OUCH! OUCH

 This past Saturday, I ran with some walking the Michael J. Fox 5K at the at the Bolingbrook high school. I made 4 contacts including 3 organizations who had booths at the race and a 4th contact with the track turf 100 yards from the finish line!!  Years ago I ran multiple half-marathons and 10K’s, with times ranging from 8 to 9 minute miles. With Parkinson’s, God has humbled me to 5K’s with times around 14- minute miles. For this race, I felt good as I entered the stadium for the last 100 yards and I decided to sprint the last 100. Well, my mind said yes and my legs said no. I then made my 4th “contact” and fell. I received a minor scratch on my elbow and was able to get up and finish the race. With some balance issues starting to surface due to Parkinson’s, I will continue with 5 K’s but no sprinting at the end. Some of the other contacts have already helped the Parkinson’s Support Group Patti and I started here at Carillon in January, 2022. God has blessed us with a unique ministry. We have been able to encourage others with some of the past health issues we have dealt with. God gives us certain circumstances so we can tell someone we have been there and know what they are going through. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1-4. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. This is why we started the Parkinson’s Support Group here at Carillon. We can comfort others as God has comforted us and continues to comfort us in our journey. Many circumstances come and go but Parkinson’s is a life time journey. When Patti had cancer, we also used her cancer to encourage others. She was in a support group for almost 15 years.

Now if for now, no more sprinting at the end.