Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Esto Viri. Esto Sancti. -- “Be a Man. Be a Saint.”

As a committed Catholic, I believe that my faith should not only be lived in what I say, but also by what I do.

As we enter the Advent season, I've been thinking about the birth and life of Jesus Christ and what it truly means to be a committed Catholic man in today's world. Being such a man takes daily training.

One source of my training is The Catholic Gentleman. It is designed to strengthen and encourage Catholic men to lead holy and fulfilling lives. The website features posts and podcasts to help Catholic men to be authentic Catholic gentlemen. Their motto is Esto Viri. Esto Sancti., which means “Be a Man. Be a Saint.” Catholic men are called to change their lives, to leave mediocrity behind, and to strive for greatness.

My confirmation saint is Saint Francis de Sales ("The Gentleman Saint"). For non-Catholics reading this post, as a catechumen or candidate goes through the sacramental preparation for Confirmation in the Catholic Church, a confirmation saint is chosen as someone he or she wants to be like, as well as someone who can pray for that person from heaven. As St. Paul wrote, ‘We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses’ (Hebrews 12:1). These witnesses are the saints who continually intercede for us. In choosing a confirmation saint, we are choosing a special friend to intercede for us in heaven, and after whom we can model our lives while here on earth. Knowing that Saint Francis de Sales is praying for me from heaven as I pray to God here on earth is truly a comfort in my Christian life.

It has been said in recent years that there is a Catholic "man crisis." Various media sources have reported that large numbers of men who were baptized Catholic have left the Church and the majority of those who remain are "Casual Catholic Men" -- men who don't know the Catholic faith and don’t practice it. Many believe that this large-scale failure of Catholic men to commit themselves to Jesus Christ and His Church has contributed to the accelerating decay of the post-modern culture. Committed Catholic men realize that Satan lurks behind the cultural decay. As one Catholic writer notes about committed Catholic men, "they have come to know that Satan is real, Hell is real, Sin is real and that life is a battle to confront and defeat Satan -- the Evil One who is waiting at every turn to devour the unprepared. Committed Catholic men are not perfect, but take seriously Christ’s call to perfection. Committed Catholic men have made Sainthood their goal and have made their purpose to lead their families and as many others as possible to Heaven."

Surveys show that only about 33 percent of Catholic men pray daily, and only about 25 percent attend Mass each Sunday. Only about 40 percent of Catholic men pray the Rosary, and only 10 percent carry the Rosary with them. As those of you who have been reading my blog the past couple of years know, I regularly strive to seek God's will for my Catholic life. My first and foremost aim in life is to please Him. As we experience this Advent season, I will be thanking God daily for His countless blessings and for the many gifts that He gives to me and my family.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso

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Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Looking Back on 2021 Family Happenings as the Autumn Leaves Fall

The Fall leaves are falling in our neighborhood and our family is enjoying a wonderful autumn season, but winter is not far away. A couple of days ago we had the first snowflakes flying around in northern Indiana, but there was no accumulation. At least we're in a warmer climate than my parents are in Alaska. Currently, they are experiencing below zero temperatures for daily highs in the heart of Alaska!

I recently completed our family holiday newsletter. As I looked back on the happenings of 2021 I realized that we've been extremely busy as a family! Kyndal (age 13) and Hannah (age 16) continue to perform at the highest level academically. Kyndal was recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, and she continues to participate in band and choir. This year, Kyndal took part in her first 5K event, finishing ahead of many adults. Hannah is in 11th grade and was confirmed in the Catholic church this year, earned her driver's license, and started working her first job. She enjoys being a part of her high school's marching and pep bands, and is setting her sights on where she wants to attend college in 2023. Both teens continue to excel in dance classes and performances -- Kyndal in jazz, tap and hip-hop and Hannah in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip-hop.

As most of you know, Kelley and I got married in 2018 and combined we have eight children -- six of whom are adults. Kelley's eldest daughter, Rachel, is getting married in October 2022 to Bailey, and we've been enjoying the preparations for that big day. Nathan, Kelley's son, continues to be a manager at a national computer/electronics company in Indianapolis. My eldest daughter, Jenna, is settling into married life in Minnesota, and my Montana-based daughter, Ashlin, and her husband are expecting their first child in March 2022. My eldest son, Kyler, works for a computer company in Montana, while my other son, Brian, continues to pursue his college studies in Arizona.

Kelley and I have stayed busy with our jobs and projects around our home... our home sweet home. During 2021, we enjoyed several road trips for fun and family events. We recently returned from Chicago where our family took in several popular sights - including the Willis Tower Skydeck at 1,353 feet (103 floors up!) above the windy city and "The Bean" (Cloud Gate) in Millennium Park. I've included a photo below. We enjoyed good food, good shopping, and a great family time. This year also included a trip to Minnesota so that I could have the honor of walking my eldest daughter, Jenna, down the aisle at her wedding. We're so happy for she and Cole! We also made a road trip to Missouri for another family wedding, that of Kelley's niece, Kiley, to Luke. We went to Kansas to spend time with family, and enjoyed a visit from family who traveled from Kansas to Indiana.

I'm about to enter my 8th year at the law firm where I work, and this year Kelley and I launched a new Indiana company that provides specialized services to law offices and insurance agencies statewide. I'll continue to work full-time at the firm, but will also be operating this new business as well.

Yes, it has been a busy 2021 for our family. Now, we're looking forward to enjoying the holidays together! May the Lord bless you and your family as you enter into this season of thanksgiving, joy and love.



From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

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Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Running Across the USA -- Failure in 1986 and Success in 2006

Today marks 15 years since I completed my solo run across America at the age of 41. I thought I had seen every photo of me that was taken during that journey and published online. However, I recently came across the picture that accompanies this writing. It was taken as I was running between the towns of Logansport and Peru, Indiana, in September 2006.

This year also marks 35 years since I first attempted to run across the United States at the age of 21 -- back in 1986. That run was unsuccessful, but the 2006 attempt allowed me to place my footsteps from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

I occasionally look online to see who is running across the country, particularly those who are making the attempt solo. There are always people walking or hiking across the country, taking 6 months or more -- or even a year or more -- to cross the continent. I'm more interested in those who take on the 3,000-mile challenge and complete it in 4 months or less all alone. My journey required me to average 30 miles per day for 108 days while striding through 15 states. In the 15 years since I became the 5th person in history to run solo across the country from one coast to the other, there have been plenty of people who have taken on the across-USA challenge. Some have succeeded with massive support crews and luxury mobile accommodations while others have tasted success simply by using the approach I did -- a jogging stroller.

It has been 112 years since the first documented crossing of the United States on foot, which was by Edward Weston in 1909. It's reported that he averaged 32 miles per day at the age of 70. Although he was considered a notable "pedestrian" by many, there are those who doubt that he actually stepped the entire distance. Today, there are various devices to track and validate crossings. Unfortunately, most crossers still don't use such devices and some have been identified as cheaters -- or actually admitted it.

I believe that the most publicized run across America was in 2011 when ultramarathon professional Dean Karnazes ran from California to New York with a massive media and support team in multiple luxury vehicles. His run was consistently featured on the Live with Regis and Kathie Lee morning television show and Karnazes garnered media attention from around the world as he did what made him happiest -- run. He averaged 40 miles per day for 73 days to complete the journey. However, that same year there were 8 other across-USA runners who all did more daily mileage and ran it faster than Karnazes, but their accomplishments were simply a side note at the bottom of sports pages. In fact, three years before Karnazes did his run, Marshall Ulrich ran across America by logging 58 miles per day -- or about 18 miles more each day than Karnazes. Finally, since Karnazes did his run in 2011, there have been many people who have logged more daily mileage across America than Karnazes did, but you don't hear about those runners.

On the flipside of the coin are those who cross the country at such a slow pace that hardly any training is needed at all -- just an abundant amount of time to do nothing but log a few miles daily. In 1984, one man went across the country at a mere 12 miles per day (requiring 259 days). In 2012-2013, a man crossed the country by only going 6 miles per day (requiring 456 days). Another man did similar mileage in 2015, and no... these were not old people. In fact, over the course of the past 10 years there have been several people who have crossed the country on foot by averaging 10 miles or less per day, sharing their journeys online. Generally, those are people with a lot of free time to wander the roads of America for over a year.

So far in 2021, there have been at least a dozen people who have set off to cross America on foot. Some have completed the journey while others are still out there. When I made my first attempt to run across America in 1986, it was extremely uncommon and unthinkable to many. Of course, the Internet has fueled interest and been a catalyst for getting people on the road. After my 1986 attempt nobody else tried to run across America until 1990. There was a four-year period when there were no adventurous souls willing to try it. However, since 1990 there has been an increasing number of people each year who have been attempting to stride from one side of the country to the other. I believe that this interest will only grow as more people accomplish the task and share it with the world via the social media and published books.

I'm glad that I succeeded at running across the country in 2006, but I'm also glad that I made the attempt in 1986 long before the Internet was around. I undertook something at the age of 21 that was truly rare and relatively unheard of. Now, at the age of 56, I believe that 1986 attempt impacted my life in ways that I never fully realized as an adventurous 21 year old.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

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Monday, August 2, 2021

"Tempus Fugit" -- Time Flies: Watching My Eldest Daughter Get Married

My wife and I recently attended the wedding of my first child, Jenna -- who is 28 years old. We drove 11 hours from our home in Indiana to the venue in Minnesota. As those hours clicked by, I recalled many special moments with Jenna -- dating back to 1993. As I did, I couldn't help but to think of a phrase imprinted on a pendulum wall clock that I gave to her in June for her birthday. On that clock are the words "Tempus Fugit"... which is a Latin phrase, usually translated into English as "time flies." The expression comes from a writing by the Roman poet, Publius Vergilius Maro -- usually called 'Virgil.'

I believe that parents best understand how quickly time flies. Watching children grow up, mature, and eventually marry certainly makes a parent pause to reflect about the passage of time and just how quickly the years go by. As the mileposts went by in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, I kept thinking "Tempus Fugit" -- time flies.

I remember well dancing with Jenna in a little red house in Montana when she was just a few years old. I knew that one day I would be dancing with her at her wedding reception. It has been 28 years since I became a father and as I watched her dance with her husband I kept thinking... Tempus Fugit, time flies. Then, it was my turn to dance with her for a father/daughter moment on the dance floor. She didn't know it at the time, but when she reached out her hand to step onto that floor, I saw the little girl that would reach out to me like that when I got home from work. She would wait anxiously by the front door and reach out to me for a hug and to spend time together. When my newly-married daughter reached out to me before that dance, I saw -- and felt in my heart -- the little girl that was always so eager to spend time with me. It pierced my heart instantly, and my eyes welled up. Jenna stayed very composed, while I struggled with emotions that she won't understand until she is a parent at her own child's wedding. Tempus Fugit... time flies. Just how fast that time goes swept over me like a tidal wave as I danced with her.

Jenna and I reside in different states, nearly 600 miles apart. We don't see each other often and that's simply the reality of life. Children grow up, marry, and blaze their path in life -- which is often away from parents. She is beautiful, intelligent, successful, and now... a wife. Her husband is a fortunate man, and she is blessed to have a man who loves the woman she has become. He didn't see the entire journey to that point as I did, but I pray that he will always love and cherish her as if he did.

Before I walked Jenna down the aisle, she gave me cufflinks as a surprise gift. I wore them as we took each step side by side. One of the cufflinks was a photo of she and I from when she was a young child. The other cufflink had these words printed on it: "Always your little girl." My little girl got married last week and I'm still looking at those cufflinks thinking Tempus Fugit... time flies.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
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Thursday, July 1, 2021

Watching Children Grow Up -- There's an Appointed Time for Everything

Recently, my 16-year-old stepdaughter attended two week-long Catholic retreats where she was able to dive deeper into her faith. These opportunities were located at two separate college campuses, both of which are in consideration for her to attend after high school. As my wife and I toured the campuses with her, and got her set up into a dorm room -- which was each retreat's accommodations -- we both felt the emotions of what is to occur in just a couple of short years. It will be then that we'll take her to a campus and know that she's an adult... blazing her path in life. I must admit, I got a bit choked up thinking about it as I watched her strolling across each campus.

As we read in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, there is an appointed time for everything... including letting children step out on their own. It's an emotional experience for any parent -- a combination of joy for watching their child become an adult, and sorrow for knowing that the child will not be around as much. I felt a twinge of that as I walked around those college campuses last month.

My wife, Kelley, and I were married in 2018 after first meeting in 2015. Between us, we have eight children -- six of whom are adults. The two daughters remaining at home are ages 13 and 16. So, we're only five years away from feeling the "empty nest." I'm praying that those 1,800 days go slowly! All of our adult children have pursued, or are currently pursuing, higher education in one form or another. Several have earned university degrees and are on their career path. It's truly a blessing to watch children mature into adulthood and take ownership of their future.

Its been almost 40 years since I packed my bags and headed off to the University of Montana, where I earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees after five years on campus. I paid out-of-state tuition (having gone there from Alaska) and my total bill for two degrees was around $25,000 -- and yes, that included tuition, room, board, and books. I was curious what it would cost me today to attend the same university and pay out-of-state tuition. As you can image, the cost has certainly gone up! If I wanted to earn two B.A. degrees now from the University of Montana, I would pay approximately $192,000 for five years of tuition, room, board, and books as an out-of-state resident. That's about $167,000 more than what I paid back in the 1980's.

According to EducationData.org, the average cost of college in the United States is $35,720 per student, per year. The cost has tripled in the past 20 years, with an annual growth rate of nearly 7 percent. The average in-state student attending a public four-year institution spends $25,615 for one academic year. The average cost of in-state tuition alone is $9,580; out-of-state tuition averages $27,437. The average traditional private university student spends a total of $53,949 per academic year, $37,200 of it on tuition and fees. Experts say that taking into account student loan interest and loss of income, the ultimate cost of a bachelor’s degree may exceed $400,000. And to think that I received two B.A. degrees for around $25,000!

Across the U.S., college enrollment numbers are down -- particularly in community colleges. This cannot simply be blamed on the Coronavirus pandemic. The overall cost of higher education is certainly a factor that more young people are taking a hard look at before applying to colleges and universities. The skyrocketing cost of college has created a $1.7 trillion dollar student debt crisis, leaving many prospective students questioning the worth of a college degree. Unless scholarships and grants can be obtained to help decrease the final bill, the cost of college is simply getting out of reach for many.

In just a couple of years, Kelley and I will taking an 18-year-old to her college campus -- an intelligent young lady who has a bright future ahead of her. Three short years after that, we'll be doing it again... for the final time. May the sands of time fall slowly over the next five years!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
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Tuesday, June 15, 2021

The Secret of Change Hasn't Been a "Secret" for Over 2,400 Years

The collection of three photos that accompany this writing are quite special to me. In these pictures I'm holding my two youngest stepdaughters -- who are now ages 13 and 16. It's amazing how much they have grown over the past four years. We first met in 2015 when they were only 7 and 10 years of age. It has been such a blessing to be in their lives for the past six years, and an even greater blessing to be their step-dad for the past three years!

All three photos were actually taken in the same exact location. What started out to be the edge of a cornfield is now where businesses stand (a restaurant is in the background of the 2021 photo). The girls have changed, the surroundings have changed, but I still look exactly the same! Ha! Of course, that's not true. I'm now 56 years of age, but still able to lift each of them onto an arm.

One thing that I've learned in life is that change is inevitable. When change occurs, we can either embrace it or try to convince ourselves that it's not happening. Some ignore it, deny it, regret it, suppress it, and fight it. No matter the approach you take when it comes to change, eventually the reality of it settles in and you find that you truly have no choice but to accept it. Change is constantly occurring, sort of like the seconds ticking by on a clock. You don't realize that an hour has gone by until you look at the clock and see that all of those little 'ticks' of the second hand have added up. That's sort of what life is like. Each day there are subtle changes happening in and around our lives. Changes in relationships, health, finances, work, appearance, society, nature, and more are constantly occurring. As I've aged, change has become something that I've more readily embraced.

I look at the three photos with my stepdaughters and definitely see change. However, what I also see is a bond that has grown over the years as a result of not just letting the clock tick by without making the most of that time. I've acquired six years of wonderful memories with these young ladies. In just two years the eldest one will be off to college, and the youngest will be in her high school years. I'm very aware of the time that is left with them at home, and I'm definitely going to make the most of that precious time.

Socrates is quoted as saying, "The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." For over 2,400 years those have been good words to ponder!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
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Monday, May 10, 2021

Children Should Celebrate Moms Everyday, Not Just On Mother's Day!

Yesterday was Mother's Day and at my house we celebrated what a wonderful mother my wife, Kelley, is to her children. The day began with Mass at church and all mothers were called up front and prayed for. Then, we enjoyed a very special time together at home. As I closed my eyes on the day I couldn't help but to think that we should celebrate mothers every day of the year. Kelley has been a blessing to her children in ways that they won't fully realize until they have children of their own. It's truly wonderful to watch her in her role as a mother each and every day. 

I was able to speak to my own mother yesterday, who lives in Alaska with my Dad and is four hours behind the time zone I'm in. My mother, who is in her 80's, is an amazing photographer! On her Flickr account she showcases wonderful photos of Alaska.

Age certainly isn't slowing her down from grabbing her camera and capturing the magnificent sights of the largest U.S. state. It's the land of the last frontier, the land of the midnight sun, and the land of hearty Alaskan women who keep doing their hobbies no matter what age the calendar reflects! I've previously written in this blog about my Mom's photo playground, and I'm so pleased that after 67 years of marriage, raising seven children (now ages 56 to 66), and enduring some incredibly harsh winters since 1976 that she is still pressing the shutter!

As I thought about what wonderful mothers my wife and Mom are, I couldn't help but to think of Jesus Christ's mother -- Mary. God the Father sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to bring redemption to humanity. Jesus Christ didn’t just appear as an adult, or fall from the sky. He was born of a woman, and had a human mother. The archangel announced to Mary of Nazareth that she was "full of grace," and was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus, the Savior of humanity. It was Mary who first heard and believed in the glad tidings of the Savior’s arrival. Virginally conceived, Jesus was born surrounded by His mother's faith. Jesus honored Mary as His mother and showed her the love of a devoted son. With her maternal heart, she held a privileged place in His life and mission. Mary understood who Jesus was and what He was called to do. From the crib to the cross, from Pentecost to her Assumption, Mary loved her Son and faithfully served Him as her Savior and Lord.

Mother's Day is an opportunity for us to thank the woman who gave us life and to reflect on the unique role that mothers are called to play in the lives of their children and in the world. Yes, I believe that should be celebrated every day of the year!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
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Monday, April 5, 2021

You Can Receive The Ultimate Vaccine -- A Shot To The Heart!

In early March, the state of Indiana lowered the qualifying age for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to 50. Since yesterday was my 56th birthday (on Easter!), I definitely qualified. I immediately registered and on March 18, 2021 I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine. I'll be getting my second, and final, Moderna shot on April 19. At the time that I received the first shot, only 21 percent of the U.S. population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Experts say that in order to achieve a herd immunity against COVID-19, at least 70 percent to 80 percent of a population must be vaccinated.

It has been interesting to read the myriad of news reports regarding public opinion swirling around the Coronavirus vaccine. There are those who are completely against it, others who are tentative, and some that are scrambling to vaccination sites without hesitation. I'm sure my receiving the vaccine will be viewed by some as unwise while others will agree with my decision. I wonder if a similar public debate occurred back in 1942 when the influenza vaccine was introduced.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a vaccine to treat bad attitudes; poor judgments; racial discrimination; ageism; abuse; neglect; violence; and so many other ailments of society? Imagine... just walk into a clinic and pick out the vaccine you want in an effort to make the world a better place for yourself and others. I know that's not realistic and some who are reading this may choose to abandon this writing before reaching the end. I'm asking you to hold on for a little while longer, particularly if you're a Millennial (between the ages of 25 and 40).

Getting back to this thought of receiving a vaccination to treat bad attitudes, poor judgments, and more, I can tell you that such a vaccine does indeed exist. You don't have to get it by receiving a needle in your arm or swallowing a pill. You simply have to put your eyes on it, read it, and accept it into your heart. I guess that you can say it's a shot to the heart. I'm talking about reading God's Word -- the Bible. Many people have never put their faith in God and His Word, and they've avoided His "spiritual vaccination" to their personal detriment. I recently saw a video which featured a 20-something female saying that the Bible is only for "old white people." What a sad -- and lost -- statement for a young person to make!

The American Bible Society shared some unsettling trends in its annual "State of the Bible" survey. Bible skepticism is on the rise compared to previous years. Many are "too busy" to read the Bible despite its unprecedented availability -- even in app form where it can be read to you, or you can set a reminder to read through a reading plan. Sadly, the Bible generally sits on a shelf until a crisis. Most readers report that they are drawn to search it out for answers to life's questions, or when they are in need of comfort or answers for tough situations they may be facing. The survey also shows that not only are Millennials more likely to be skeptical toward Scripture, they are also less likely to read the Bible, less likely to own a Bible, and less likely to believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life. Also, only 30 percent of Millennials believe that the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God. Given the increase in Millennials who don't believe the Bible is sacred, as well as the decrease in Bible awareness among Millennials, Bible skepticism will likely continue to rise.

AARP (American Association of Retired People) asked a group of Millennials at what age a person is "old." Those responding generally considered 50 and over as "old." Since I just celebrated my 56th birthday, I would definitely be considered old by most of today's Millennials -- and, as mentioned, there are some Millennials who believe that the Bible is only for "old white people." It's sad to see that the Millennial generation has such a narrow focus on age and on the Bible. Before they know it, they'll be in that 50+ age demographic and perhaps once they have several difficult adult life experiences behind them they'll learn two things: that you're only old if you sit down and say you're old, and that the Bible is truly God's Word and offers far more than what their generation believes.

By the way, if you're a Millennial and have read this far you should know about Bjorn Suneson, a 73-year-old Swedish man who has run solo across the United States 7 times -- averaging about 30 miles per day pushing a support stroller of gear, food and water. Why does he do it? Because he likes learning about America, meeting Americans, and writing about the American culture for his global blog readers to enjoy. His first run across the U.S.A. occurred when he was 58 years old! Between the ages of 58 and 71 he ran 7 times across America for a distance of over 22,000 miles! Trust me, Millennials... age is just a number! Oh, and by the way, Bjorn is aiming to run across America again this year -- which would be his 8th crossing of the continent.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
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Monday, March 1, 2021

I (like many) Have Been Viewed as a "Hero" and a "Zero." That's Life.

A "Hero" is defined as a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In October 2006 -- after I had completed my solo run across the United States simply to keep a promise to a group of elementary students -- I had some people tell me that I was a hero. In fact, the world-renowned Mayo Clinic bestowed upon me the "Health Hero Award" for my 15-state coast-to-coast accomplishment. Honestly, I've never considered myself a "hero" for anything that I've done in my life. I've simply aimed to do the best that I can in each situation that I've been presented with. There are times when I've experienced great success, and times when I've fallen into significant failure. In the eyes of some, I'm sure there have been moments when they've viewed me as a hero, and times when they've viewed me as a zero. Is that difficult for me? Not really. That's simply called life.

My 56th birthday is coming up soon and as I look back on the past 20,000+ days on this earth I can recall times when I've viewed the actions and choices of others as being heroic... a fireman who saved a small child from a burning building; a kind soul who changed the life of a homeless person; and, a saint who was put to death as a result of staying true to his faith. There are heroes all around us -- people to admire for their character qualities and achievements. However, it is our Heavenly Father who is the Ultimate Hero! God gave us His son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sins -- saving mankind and creating a way for us to be with God forever. Unlike earthly heroes, God will never let us down. There are many places in Scripture where God says that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He will be with us wherever we go. That cannot be said of earthly heroes, because they -- like us -- are sinful mortals.

I remember very well the first time a "hero" let me down. It was in 1979 when I was fourteen years of age. My eldest brother was ten years older than I and had been serving in the military for several years. When he would travel back to our home state to visit, I was always impressed with his appearance. He was much taller than I, looked distinguished in his military uniform, and had a smile that could brighten a room. He was a Christian, played guitar, and enjoyed running -- all things that would become a part of my own life. I truly looked up to him and in many ways he was my hero when I was in junior high. However, he made a choice that took away his 'hero' status in my life. For selfish reasons that only he truly understands, he chose to cut all ties with his family and move away with his new bride -- never to be seen or heard from again. Yes, it has been 42 years since my eldest brother disappeared from my life. I don't know if he's dead or alive... but after 42 years I live as though he died decades ago.

I went through stages -- disbelief; confusion; anger; sadness; letting go; and, eventually acceptance. It was truly a grieving process. The last time I saw him was when I was competing in an eight grade track meet. I had won all of my races and he came up to me on the infield of the track, congratulated me, and told me that I was a very good runner and that I should continue to develop my running abilities. I remember that he was rather serious as he told me that. Then, he said he would see me later. He turned and walked away across the infield. I would never see him again. It was that day when my brother went from being a hero in my life to being a zero in my life -- completely absent without even a goodbye. I've written before in this blog about other people in my life who have made similar choices. All that I can say in my heart is Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.

As I begin to enter the autumn season of life, I no longer have earthly heroes. Many times, "hero" status is fleeting and often leads to disappointment for those who look upon others as heroes. These days, I set my eyes and heart heavenward to Jesus Christ -- a hero to more than two billion people worldwide. The word "hero" comes from the Latin, heros, meaning, "defender, protector" and "to save, deliver, preserve, protect." Closely related to the word "hero" is "Savior" -- which comes from the Latin, salvatorem, meaning "one who delivers or rescues from peril" or "heals." Jesus is infinitely higher above all other heroes, and He is the only Hero and Savior that I need.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

"Back To My Life" -- My Final Words After Running Across America

On October 20, 2006 I completed my 3,260-mile, 108-day, 15-state solo run across the United States. I had averaged 30 miles per day from the Oregon coast to the Delaware shore, being disconnected from the routine happenings in my life as a 41-year-old father of four children. After it was all over, I was contacted by a reporter for one last interview. In the article he described me as a "lithe, sinewy man" and shared a few details about my journey. At the end of the interview, he asked me what I would be doing next. I paused a moment, reflecting on the endeavor I had just completed. Then, I said four words which would become the final words of his article: "Back to my life."

During that June to October adventure, people had seen me as simply an ultra-endurance runner reaching for the horizon day after day in hopes of making it to the Atlantic Ocean. I was just an odd spectacle seen along the road by many people as they headed to work, dashed to the grocery store, or were on their way home from one of their kid's activities. Some believed I was homeless, a vagabond, or out of sorts... mentally. Many passed me by without a glance, some were annoyed at my presence along the road's edge, and a few attempted to run me into the ditch. Not many people understood what all of my strides were about. Often, I was portrayed as a guy who was paying his dues for losing a bet. If you're not sure what that means, you'll want to read some of these previous posts: Keeping A Promise -- What Does That Look Like In Action?; Make Good on a Promise? Preposterous!; and, Is Keeping a Promise an Unrealistic Goal?.

Regardless of public perception of me from June until October 2006, after I ran into the Atlantic Ocean to complete that coast-to-coast challenge I had to get back to my life. Most people who read the four closing words of that article had no idea what "back to my life" really meant for Paul Staso. I think that some people just thought I was a guy constantly in motion -- running here, there and everywhere for no apparent reason. In fact, at the time I was operating my own business and was the father of four children between the ages of 6 and 13. My marriage of 19 years had been struggling in many ways and I was attempting to cope with that while still trying to be the best father that I could to my children. Although not planned at the outset, my run across America ended up being rather therapeutic for me. I was on the road for nearly four months alone with plenty of time to think and process the events and choices of my life. I was also well aware of what the words "Back to my life" meant and what was awaiting me.

Upon my return, I quickly realized that going back to my life would not be quite the same 'life' as the one I departed from when I took those initial steps away from Cannon Beach, Oregon on June 23, 2006. There were some ways in which life had indeed changed, and not necessarily for the better. Within five years of that run across America my marriage was ending and my business was crumbling. Most of my children were teenagers and busy with their friends and activities. I diligently aimed to keep hidden the emotional struggles that I was going through -- struggles that had been mounting for decades. I tried to focus on being a fun Dad... a fair Dad... a Dad that was decent, supportive, giving, and who would draw a parental line in the sand when one of my children tried to push the boundaries of what was acceptable -- as most teenagers do. Unfortunately, even the most loving intentions can go unnoticed and unappreciated.

I look back on the words "back to my life" and the season of life that I was in 15 years ago and can honestly say that my life is completely new. I've written in this blog about that. I'm blessed to be in my third year of marriage to a wonderful, loving, faith-filled woman; I now reside in the state of Indiana; and, I'm fortunate to not only be a father but also a step-father. I no longer operate my own business, but am in my seventh year working for a respected law firm. It has been 10 years since my last adventure run (across the Mojave Desert) and in May 2017 I retired from ultra-endurance running. I'm no longer Baptist, but Catholic; I teach junior high Sunday School; and, I have my eyes set on e-publishing a devotional for Catholic athletes -- as well as other e-books about my adventure runs, to be made available through Amazon and other e-book outlets. Life is not only good... it's great!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

-- Jeremiah 29:11

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Despite Our Wayward Ways, God's Love is Steadfast -- Always.

It wasn't until the year 2020 that I became a Catholic. For 43 years prior to that, I was a Baptist. I was baptized in 1977 at the age of 12 at a Baptist church in Alaska. On June 28, 2020 I was blessed through the Rite of Christian Initiation to come into Full Communion with The Roman Catholic Church. Significant preparation and study were a part of that spiritual journey. My lovely wife, Kelley, has been a Catholic since the cradle and I have attended the Catholic church with her for many years. We attend Mass weekly and I'm blessed to be leading junior high faith formation (Sunday school).

For the past five years, I've written about a variety of topics in this blog. Most of those writings have not had anything to do with my faith. That is now going to change. If I'm going to post writings to this blog, those writings are going to be connected to my Catholic faith. I've spent a lot of time in prayer over the past year and have realized that I seem to give more credit to myself for the successes in my life than to the One from whom those successes actually flow. God is the One who has moved me from a life raft bobbing up and down in wayward seas to a steady ship that is guided by His wind and will. It is to Him that I give all gratitude, glory, honor and praise.

For those who have frequented my writings since I first began to post online in 2005, you will now see a change in tone... a change in focus. My writings will not be as frequent, but will be connected to my Catholic faith. If you've felt that your life has been like a cork bobbing up and down on uncontrollable seas, this blog may help -- in some small way -- to set your sights on the horizon and on what God can do when you give your life to Him. Others may criticize or judge you, but keep in mind that it is not to others that you must ultimately answer when you cross life's finish line.

Through God's plan for my athletic life, I've been blessed to run solo across the United States, Germany, Alaska, Montana, and the Mojave Desert. However, as Psalm 147:10-11 tells us: "He takes... no pleasure in the runner’s stride. Rather the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His mercy." God doesn't take pleasure in what I can accomplish with my legs. He wants me to fear him -- which means to have reverence for Him -- and to put my hope in Him. That's what God truly wants from me, and from all of us. Through my athletic career, the miles I've conquered add up to be nearly two laps of planet earth -- about 50,000 miles. Sadly, my past track record shows that I've given myself far more credit for those miles than I've given to God. As a Christian, that was wrong.

For countless years I actually lived the words of Romans 5:3 ("suffering produces endurance"). Then, my life seemed to be focused on the initial words of Romans 5:4 ("endurance produces character"). These days, the tide has turned and God has blessed my life with calm seas, easier sailing, and blessings that I never imagined on those days long ago when I wondered what was beyond the horizon for me. Now, my life is more focused on the second part of Romans 5:4 -- "character produces hope." God is indeed good... all the time.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso
_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
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