I have not yet begun to fight.......

There comes a point.....or maybe series of moments / seasons......in which you just get tired of being a "cancer fighter".  You just want to meld into the tapestry of "normal" citizen......and get on down the road with life and all the garden variety crap that we deal with daily.  No hours spent after work trying to iron out foundation details and the weight of trying to bring more folks alongside in the battle.   It doesn't make the cause any less noble or pressing.....blood/bone cancers still claim approximately 150 young people under the age of 25 every single day......but.......it would be nice to just fade away into the sunset for awhile.

**************

Stewardship is a lesson best learned in observation of lives well lived.  I was blessed to see it walked daily in the lives of Perman & Ruby (grandparents), Aunt Dona, & Mom/Dad.  Finances, time, & talents.....if it is a cause worth fighting for......then you should be prepared to give generously to it.   Every good steward that I have ever known is also a hard worker.....and my fathers were always willing to "do the work".   So was Mitchell.   In many ways, it is one of the traits that bring the most smiles to my face when I think about his young life.  When you combine a good steward with a hard worker......and mix in a healthy dose of competitive fire........well, then you have something pretty special.   You don't need to have a lot....you just have to be willing give some of what you have.....to help others and hope they do the same.  

***************

I don't really KNOW Jay Taylor.  I had never even heard his name until about a year ago.  What I do KNOW is that Jay Taylor has been a good steward of the time / talents that he has been given.  Jay has raised thousands of dollars for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and provided leadership / motivation to hundreds of others committed to funding blood cancer research.   Jay Taylor is a team mate.   Jay Taylor is a brother in arms.   Loyalty to team / brothers / sisters commands the highest premium from me.  Jay Taylor is in hospice care right now with his family in Louisiana.  A diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer a year ago has taken its toll on his body and by all reasonable assessments.....it would appear that his journey in this life is drawing to a close.

Good stewards manage their time / talents in such a way to help others.  Good stewards make an impact and leave a legacy that will outlive an epitaph.  Mitchell Whitaker was a good steward.   Jay Taylor is a good steward.   The thousands of folks gathered across the world today that fight for our shared cause.......are good stewards.   Time is the most precious commodity that any of us have in this life.  The folks that I have been fortunate enough to meet with Team in Training are ready, willing, and able to give of their time, talents, & finances.......and continue to do so as part of our GoMitchGo team.  

Every season Team in Training has a "Mission Mile" to bring a sharp focus to the cause as each team embarks on a new season of training.   This mile is run / walked in silence to honor those who have passed and those fighting the diseases we commit to cure.  

Today was for Jay Taylor.   Today was a day to honor one of our own.......in addition to all who have gone before.......and those battling for their lives.  A few hundred folks showed up......good stewards all.......for an emotional day of remembrance.  Derek Trainer offered it up straight from the heart.  Derek is a survivor....and a good steward.  It is never fun to face the prospect of losing those close to us.  

I run to honor Mitchell Whitaker.  Today, I added Jay Taylor.  I believe that Mission Miles should hurt.  Mitchell would have never run them slow.....and neither shall I.  That is just something that I have to do......it is very emotional.....putting yourself in a place that hurts to get to the finish line as fast you can to complete the mission.  A perfect metaphor for this cause.....and in complete opposition to "fading into the sunset".

I ran as fast as I could today......and thought about Mitchell Whitaker crying just to stand up out of a hospital bed.  I thought about Jay Taylor laying at home reflecting on his journey.....while the clock of this life.....just......keeps......ticking.  I thought about Derek Trainer and his broken, but willing, heart....and I ran.  Hard.

Victory over this disease is not my responsibility.  Running as hard as I can, to raise as much as I can, while motivating as many as I can.........to do the same.......is the lot that I have been given.  To do anything less......would insult the legacy of stewardship laid out before in my fathers, my son, my wife, and my brothers/sisters in arms.   Success is found in your willingness to fight.

The sunset was beautiful today in Austin, Texas.....I did not fade with it.

I have not yet begun to fight.  

Have you?  Who are you waiting for?  Who else is going to come to our rescue?  I'll take my chances with the hundreds of good stewards that I saw today in a parking lot.  Join us.

4J.

Keep Fighting.