SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Author: J Brad Mitchell

  • Hope?

    It is easy to have hope when that is what you see.  When things are going well, hope is effortless.  But, if it is effortless, is it really even hope?  Or is it really just feeling good because things are going well?  In my opinion, having real hope means that despite my circumstances, I can look beyond and know that there is something better.  It means that even when the world seems to be crashing down around me, I know that joy comes in the morning.  And, it means that when things are at their darkest, there is always a glimmer of light.

    I was listening to an older Third Day song this morning.  It is one of my favorites…Cry Out To Jesus.  It is a reminder that there is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart.  There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing…HE will meet you where ever you are!

    It is a powerful reminder of where my hope comes from.  Now to learn to live more like someone who has hope…

  • Perspective Shift

    They say that you never know what you have until it’s gone.  I somewhat disagree.  I think that you really realize what you have when there is the realization that it could be gone in the blink of an eye.  You know those life changing moments where you realize that what is here today could be gone tomorrow and your perspective begins to change.  I think it changes even more as I get older.  As a young person, considering the end of life is difficult…it is as if I will live forever and all things will just continue until then.  But, there is something about aging.  While I am still “young”, my perspective is definitely taking a shift.  My friend gets hit by a car on his bike and found out he has cancer.  A young 16 year old is dying from cancer.  My Dad has been gone for 1 year after his battle with cancer.  My oldest daughter is driving and dating.  My youngest is cheering and growing up.  And…I hit a milestone birthday.  I’m always excited about birthdays…I am in way better shape now than 20 years ago.  I feel great and am thankful.  I have a wonderful wife and a beautiful, loving family.  This 40th birthday is exciting…but doesn’t come without me considering that each day is a gift.  I approach 40 with eyes that are opened a little more than usual…I am blessed if I just look around.  I approach 40 with ears that are a little more attentive…I can hear the voices of those I love if I just listen.  I approach 40 with my mouth closed a little bit more often…what I say isn’t nearly as important as what I do.  Words are super important…but most effective when backed up by actions.

  • Living ultra in a non-ultra world

    A friend of mine summed it up well for me yesterday…she said, “Brad, your whole world is an ultra world”.  And, indeed, she was correct.  I am an ultra runner.  I do things to the extreme.  I love a challenge…but it has to be a real challenge.  I don’t do well with small challenges.  I take the phrase ‘go big or go home’ literally.  I’m not going home yet, so I’m living life big.

    One of my greatest personal accomplishments is completing a 100 mile run.  I am really glad I did.  It was more than a challenge but I did it.  I also completed an ironman distance tri.  Another big challenge for me.  But, it isn’t just about exercise…it is about life for me.  I want to live my life ultra.  This often causes me to stress and overwhelm myself.  I know this.  I know it when I am doing it.  But, I want to really live life.  So, I don’t just take a spin class, I teach it.  I don’t just take a world religions class, I work on staff for the center.  I like to live life ultra.

    Some would say this is a character flaw.  I actually think it makes me who I am and I don’t see that as a flaw.  I like pushing limits and going above and beyond.  When my life is done, I want to have lived life to its fullest…in a good way…in a way that made a difference.  So, that makes me different sometimes.  But, I’m good with that.  I am okay with living ultra in a non-ultra world.

    I am thankful to my friend for helping me to put words to it.  I am living my whole life as an ultra!  Time to do it up and hopefully not drive my wife and family crazy in the process!

  • The Dream

    This all started with a dream…but isn’t that how most things start?  Yet, this dream wasn’t pleasant…it wasn’t pretty…it was scary and it shook me up… I’m in my final year of Seminary.  I finish this degree in December of 2015.  It has been a long journey.  This journey has challenged me in ways that I never thought it would.  In these last years, so many things have happened – including losing my father to cancer.  I left the church I served as pastor for over 10  years.  I have struggled financially.  My income has decreased but my needs have increased…So, I guess you get the point – it has been difficult.  Many times along this journey, my family has asked me if all this was really worth it.  Was it worth it to get this Masters Degree?  I have heard, “I sure hope you make something of all this.”  I have pushed my limits and continue to do that.  I’m in my last year…I can see the end.  So, why worry about it now? Sunday night, I fell asleep just like normal…right away without a problem.  I pack so much into a day that when I finally lay down, I am out.  I can’t possibly even think any longer.  I had not eaten anything unusual or weird.  It was a normal evening.  But, the dream was anything but normal… I was driving by myself and came to a stop sign.  I put my car in park because I was having trouble seeing out my window.  I decided that it was better for me to roll down my window because it was fogged up – it is cold outside after all.  Unfortunately, rolling down my window didn’t help because it wasn’t the window, it was my eyesight.  I was going blind.  Everything was going dark.  I had initially put the car in drive, but put it back in park since my vision was becoming worse.  I turned on my emergency signal and picked up my cell phone.  Surely I could figure out how to put my passcode in and call my wife…even blind…I mean, how many times had I done this in my lifetime?  This part of the dream ends… I pick up sitting in an office (I can see).  It is a small office and the lady working at the desk is NOT happy to be there.  She really does not enjoy her job, people, or the others in the waiting room that will not be quiet.  She is at a small desk with a window between her and the waiting room.  I am at her desk with paperwork.  She keeps cutting her eyes at the people in the waiting room.  She hands me something… I end up at a house with people who I do not know there.  They know me.  They can tell I am distressed – but I am not one to show my emotion.  I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.  I don’t want any attention.  I just want to go to my room.  It seems I have a brain tumor.  I am alone.  I tell no one. Now, here is the part of the dream that keeps playing in my head… I hear a voice ask me…was it worth it?  The voice asks me that and I realize that I cannot do anything further with this degree.  I am going blind, I have a brain tumor – it doesn’t appear I will ever do anything more with what I have learned.  But, I turn to the person and I realize that YES – it was all worth it.  All that I have learned along this journey has meant so much…the journey was the gift…the goal was not the degree…the goal was the journey and it was ABSOLUTELY worth it!  By the way, in the background, I hear my favorite song playing, “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave.  I am overwhelmed with what God has done and is doing. So, this blog is written because life is worth it.