Some post-workout thoughts

Mileage: 2.26 in 19:54 -- first cross-training workout (outdoor circuit training)

I've just gotten back from my morning workout, and I have to say that I'm digging it. Since school has gotten out, I've been able to do some early morning runs that start after the sun rises!

I realized the other day that it has been quite awhile since I last logged a blog, so I figured this morning that I would amend that. Unfortunately, what to write about. So much has happened since my last blog that I'm not sure where to begin.

• Olesya is home with us and is now so accustomed to life in America that I believe she has forgotten Russian already. She and Nate are like true siblings; they fight and they love with the best of them. It has only been a few months, but it is hard to think of a time without her.
• Sandra has decided to take a one-year (or more) leave of absence to stay at home with Olesya. Sandra felt that urge once it dawned on her that this is our last child, barring some improbable pregnancy, and if she wanted to stay at home then it had to be now.
• I have applied to be a reading specialist in Harford County, but it looks like the timing will not work out. They will most likely have two openings this summer, but they don't seem to be official yet. Under Maryland rules, I can only leave for another MD county if I am hired (and I resign) before July 15th.
• My father-in-law if battling cancer with everything he's got. We have been blessed already as his early diagnosis was 12-18 months to live, and that was almost two years ago. I worry about him and about my mother-in-law, and I pray that God gives them both the strength to face this.
• I took another step towards mid-life crisis as I got my first tattoo for my birthday (something I've been wanting for about 18 years).

The tattoo is an interesting thing, as it has forced me to explain things that I did not realize I would have to explain. I had the word "timshol" in Hebrew under the Christian fish put on my right shoulder. For me, this was a very personal and important statement to make. The word timshol comes from Genesis 4:7, the story of Cain and Abel. God is talking to Cain about why he is angry and says that if you do good, you will be blessed, but be careful because sin is lurking everywhere but you TIMSHOL conquer it. Timshol can be tranlated several ways, must-will-may, but I like may. For me, it encapsulates free will that God has given us. We are allowed to choose between sin and righteousness, between following God or not. As my faith has grown over the past decade, I realize more and more that I have chosen to follow Christ, but that I could choose not to as well. That distinction is important to me, and so I had that word put under the fish.

Now, what I did not foresee was how hard it would be to talk about the tat to people. There are two difficulties I have encountered. First, it is not easy to come up with a short and simple explanation of the word TIMSHOL. I've found that I almost have to sermonize, which I doubt people expected when they asked what the word means. Secondly, I am forced to acknowledge Christ and that I am a Christian. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I've always been willing to talk about faith with friends, but now I'm discussing it with everyone. I realize that is a good thing, but I have to get used to it. As someone who has kept his faith on the down-low, I feel this unintended consequence of a choice I made as a positive -- but really, really, scary -- step in my growing faith.