60 Laps Around The Sun... and Countless Blessings to Recall

It's official. Today, I'm 60 years old. It's a milestone that has certainly captured my attention. Most birthdays just pass by hardly noticed. However, this birthday has me pausing briefly to think about my 60 laps around the sun.

Sure, there have been some incredibly difficult moments during the past 21,900 days on earth. However, those are far outweighed by the countless blessings that have come my way. I am blessed beyond measure to be married to Kelley, to be a father of four, to be a stepdad to four, and to be a grandfather of five. I've accomplished far more in running than I ever imagined I could, and I've had a professional career that has used my abilities in a positive way -- most assuredly my current (and last) position as Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. My wife and I own a beautiful home and are blessed with very good health. God has indeed been good to me... despite the many times I've fallen short of what He, or others, would expect or desire from me. He is the ultimate Forgiving Father and it seems that I've been his Prodigal Son on more than one occasion.

Although I'm still on this journey of life (hopefully for many years to come), I'll pass along some thoughts and/or perspectives to ponder:

• Faith, Family and Fitness need to be well in focus -- and in that order.
• The "right job" is the job you love some days and can tolerate most days, and pays the bills. Hardly anyone has a job that they love every day.
• Don’t fall into the credit trap. Live within your means.
• Take care of your health. Start eating better and exercising regularly. If you put on weight now, it will be much harder to loose it later.
• Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Those weeds in your flower bed? Pull them out now, or in a few months there will be ten times as many of them and they’ll be five times as tall.
• Don't stop reading and learning -- especially the Bible. There's so much to know, and when we stop stimulating our minds, we become disengaged and stagnant.
• The most important person in your life is the person who agreed to share their life with you. Treat them as such.
• Children grow up way too fast. Make the most of the time you have with them.
• A friend will come running if you call them in the middle of the night; everyone else is an acquaintance.
• Your job provides the means to do what’s really important in life, nothing more. Do the job but live for your family.
• Savor every moment with grandchildren. Like children, they grow way too fast. Make sure you're available to them so that they know their grandparents.
• Don't marry too young. Learn to take care of yourself before you take on the responsibility of carrying for others.
• Go places. Do things. Pack a bag and go wherever you can afford to go. While you have no dependents, don’t buy a bunch of 'stuff.' Instead, see the world.
• If you have a dream of doing something that seems impossible, go for it anyway. It will only become more impossible as you age and become responsible for other people.
• We have an unknown amount of time on this earth. Don’t wake up and realize that you're 60 years old and haven’t done the things you dreamed about.
• When you meet someone for the first time, realize that you don't know anything about them. You see race, gender, age, clothes. Learn to look beyond those things. Biased assumptions that come into your head because of the way your brain categorizes people can limit your life, and others’ lives.
• Appreciate the small things and be present in the moment. Put the phone down at the table, at concerts, when talking with someone. Call more instead of texting. Regain true personal communication. Be present and give undivided attention.
• Marriage is not 50:50. It is 100:100. Remember that when you wake up and when you go to bed. Every day.
• Keep your word. At the end of the day, all we truly have is our faith and our integrity.
• Be kind, generous and forgiving. It will come back around to you.
• Nobody ever dies wishing they had worked more. However, too many die wishing they had spent more time with family.
• Take care of yourself, but don’t make it an obsession. Focus on your kids, but leave room in your life for yourself. Save enough money so that you’ll have enough for the future and for emergencies, but spend enough now to avoid looking back with regret.
• Collect experiences more than things.
• Remember, tomorrow is not guaranteed. All we really have is today, so we need to make the most of it.

Gotta Roll,

Paul J. Staso

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

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

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Easter: The "Feast of Feasts" and "Solemnity of Solemnities"

Easter is one month from today! As I pray and prepare lessons in my office at St. Charles Church, I am reminded of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states at paragraph 1169:

“Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the “Feast of feasts,” the “Solemnity of solemnities,” just as the Eucharist is the “Sacrament of sacraments” (the Great Sacrament).” 

While indeed Easter is the “Feast of feasts” and the “Solemnity of solemnities” — and therefore deserves the emphasis which it is given, we should remember to carry this same devotion for the liturgy throughout the year.

There are those who can testify that it is easy to slip into a habit of routine commitment. In doing so, we lose sight of the significance of this liturgical season, which is highlighted each time the Mass is celebrated. We can forget the intrinsic beauty and transcendent worth gifted to each of us every time we enter into the celebration of the Mass and receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist.

Take just a moment to contemplate the overwhelming reality which the Mass offers us — an opportunity that we can, if so desired, partake in on a daily basis. It is a gift above all other gifts! The more that we come to understand what the Mass is, the more we will grow in this innate desire to participate in it.

The Mass gives us the opportunity to remember and appreciate what it means to be Catholic. It is truly filled with an abundance of spiritual symbolism, church tradition and supernatural meaning. Each time we are drawn into a commemoration of the “Passion, Resurrection, and the glory of the Lord Jesus” (CCC 1167), we are reminded of the fundamental elements of our faith and, at the core, the center and pinnacle of each Mass, we are given the most beautiful, life-giving gift through the reception of the Holy Eucharist.

St. John Paul II writes is his encyclical, Ecclesia De Eucharisti, that it is from the Eucharist that “the Church draws her life” and “her nourishment.” How profoundly blessed are we to be given such an incredible gift?! For in the Eucharist is “contained the whole spiritual good of the Church” (CCC 1324) — Christ himself, fully and truly present.

May the remainder of your Lenten season — and the upcoming joy of Easter — be a time of spiritual renewal as you draw closer to our Lord and Savior.

Gotta Roll,

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:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

God Takes No Pleasure in the Runner's Stride

Since I began running in 1976 at age 11, I've logged enough running miles to circle the globe twice -- a little more than 50,000 miles. Throughout all of those miles, I’ve been a Christian. I've been sponsored by corporations, completed multiple solo running adventures across states and countries, and my strides have taken me to the White House in Washington D.C.; the top of the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges; to such national parks as Denali, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone; from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic shore; across the Great Plains; and across parts of Europe. I've had the honor of meeting people in various political offices, being hosted in homes of countless caring families, and have enjoyed the virtual running company of school children around the globe who tracked my progress via online classrooms I created for each of my running endeavors. Years of pounding the pavement made my legs very strong and I've been able to conquer every snowy mountaintop, sandy desert, desolate highway, and lonely valley I've encountered.

Yet, after decades of sculpting my body to perform at such a high degree I now realize that although God is likely pleased that I've used my athletic abilities for good purposes (promoting youth health and fitness and putting a focus on some charitable causes), God has taken no pleasure in this runner's stride. I must admit that there have been moments when I've taken pride in my self-sufficiency as I dominated over large landscapes with my runner's stride. Yet, such self-sufficiency is NOT what pleases God, but rather our ability to acknowledge dependence on Him. As it is written in Psalm 147:10-11...

In four weeks I'll be blowing out the candles on my 58th birthday cake, and I am incredibly grateful to God for the ministry He has given to me as Director of Faith Formation at a Catholic church; as a husband to my lovely wife Kelley; as a father to four amazing adult children, and step-father to three other wonderful adult children and a high school Freshman; grandfather to several grandkids; and, being the youngest of 7 siblings with my parents healthy and well in Alaska at nearly 90 years of age. I've run many different courses in life and God has truly taught me many lessons along the way... even when I've had to backtrack now and then and traverse some rough terrain to finally learn a lesson.

Let's take a closer look at Psalm 147:10-11. What delights the Lord? The verses tell us that He does not delight in the strength of the horse and He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy. We take great interest in the power of God’s creation, whether it is the strength of a horse or the strength in the legs of a man. God created these things, but they are not what fundamentally delights Him. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him -- the reverence and trust of His people. Those who find their hope in His mercy delights God, because they honor Him with their trust. It pleases God when we hope in His loyal love, His loving kindness.

Yes, when it comes to me... God is not impressed with my legs or endurance.

Please understand, taking pleasure in the beauty of the symmetry of a well-formed human leg is not the point here. Most of us are impressed with the weight-lifter whose massive legs and shoulders allow him to dead-lift 1,000 pounds or more, or an Olympic sprinter who can run the 100-meter dash in less than 10 seconds. God is happy to see us use the gifts He gives us. However, God is not impressed by the extremes of human achievement.

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). With the years I have left in this life, I definitely want to please God. Over many decades of running, it really all comes back to Psalm 147:11 where the Psalmist mentions the two qualities of character as pleasing to God: (1) fearing God; (2) putting hope in His mercy (steadfast love). "Fearing" God sounds pretty negative, but we need to understand it. "Fear" here doesn't mean "terror." Rather it means something like "be in awe of." A God-fearer is one who cares more about offending God than offending people. Some are swayed by the values of their peer group or their culture. However, the one who fears God is swayed by what he or she knows about God -- what pleases Him and what angers Him.

As I continue down life's road, I'll do so humbly and with reverence to God while keeping Romans 12:3 in mind: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment." Essentially, the Apostle Paul is telling us not to think we're better than we really are, but to be honest in our evaluation of ourselves. That's a good lesson to learn before too many mileposts are in the rearview mirror!

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:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

I am Now in Full Communion With The Roman Catholic Church

On June 28, 2020, I became a member of The Roman Catholic Church. On that day, I completed a lengthy process of learning, discernment and prayer through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), or Ordo Initiationis Christianae Adultorum -- a process developed by the Catholic Church for those seeking a path to Catholicism. I was baptized in 1977 at the age of 12 in a Baptist church and now, at age 55, I am in Full Communion with The Roman Catholic Church.

In this blog, I've made posts about my spiritual life and personal journey into the Catholic church (click on the titles below to read the posts):

• Saint Francis de Sales ("The Gentleman Saint") is an Inspirational Saint
• Safe Environment Training Program to Volunteer in the Catholic Church
• I Am 20,031 Days Into My Spiritual Journey... And Counting
• Becoming Catholic -- My Journey Into The Catholic Church
• Becoming Catholic -- The Journey Continues

Last Sunday, I entered the Catholic church through a profession of faith and reception of Confirmation and the Eucharist. My wife has been a Catholic since the cradle and now we are one in faith and attend Mass each week with the joy and blessing of being able to experience the sacraments side by side.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended into hell;

on the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting.

Amen.

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:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past