Regular visitors to this blog over the last few months will know that I have posted a lot about running and my preparations for the London Marathon which is now only five days away. The word 'marathon' has been in the news non stop since yesterday evening for all the wrong reasons.
Unless you have been in a media exclusion zone you can't have failed to hear about the tragic events at the end of the Boston Marathon, which is the world's oldest annual marathon and very popular with runners from across the world.
But how do we respond in the face of such events?
On Facebook and Twitter I have noticed a number of people pointing out that in Baghdad yesterday 31 people were killed and hundreds injured in a series of bomb blasts. They ask the question - why is it that Boston gets the headlines?
In different parts of the world today people will die - they will die as the result of terrorist bombs and guns; they will die in acts of war; they will die of starvation; they will die of perfectly preventable illnesses. There are simply too many cases to report - and therefore our news media chooses which tragedy we hear about and how it is reported. And most of the time we simply never hear about what is going on. Often, when we do hear, we simply absorb this information and the statistics wash over us. Occasionally something in the story brings events a little closer to home - and then we might have some reminder that these numbers are never simply statistics - they are people - they are families. And then we might be jogged to pray for those who are suffering. We might respond by donating to help those affected.
One of the questions that keeps being asked on one of the running forums that I contribute to is 'why?' Why do people carry out such seemingly mindless acts of violence against people who are totally innocent? But there is also an acknowledgment that good will not be overcome by evil. After the Boston explosions people ran towards the blast sites to help the injured.
For those of you who proclaim to be followers of Jesus how do we respond to these kinds of events that we see on our televisions?
In the short term, our hearts go out to those affected and we pray for them and for those who are seeking to help.
But in the longer term we also ask God to help us see the world through his eyes. God never sees us as statistics. We are individuals loved by God. Across our hurting world there will be numerous families who will be grieving today - very few of those situations we will hear about on the news, the majority we will know nothing about. And so we pray for our world.
But is prayer all that God asks us to do? In Mark 4 there are a couple of parables about the Kingdom of God - it grows bit by bit, from small beginnings to something that will fill the whole earth. Evil will not overcome good - Jesus has already told us that. And the Kingdom of God grows as love forces out hatred, as light forces out darkness, as hope forces out hopelessness, as peace forces out anxiety...
Events in Syria slip in and out of our news, as does Iraq, Iran, North Korea... Some situations we never hear about. But across our planet there are aid organisations working on the ground to help the suffering. People that we will never know personally, stories that we will never hear, parents who will never cry on our shoulder, hugs we will never be able to give - but we can play our part through prayer and financial support as the Kingdom of God grows and God overcomes evil.
Occasionally events on the news 'put things into perspective'. By which we usually mean we see a little more clearly those things that are really important and those things that actually don't matter very much at all. Personally and practically I can't do much to help the victims of the explosions in Boston or Baghdad - but what can I do closer to home? How can God use me to extend his kingdom today? How can I make the world a better place for the people I come into contact with today?
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
Marathon update - only 6 days to go!
Less than a week to go now. The most frustrating thing about this last week was being on holiday in Devon and only having short runs scheduled. When most of your running is done on the pavements of NW London having a 12+ mile run with four miles along a disused railway through the woods, followed by six miles along the coastal path makes for a refreshing change. Unfortunately my longest run this week was 8 miles - but at least I got one run up the estuary.
I did run a few miles too many this week - a couple of the 4 milers were closer to 5 so that I could take in most of the sea front.
This coming week I only have three x 3 miles and one 2 mile run scheduled before Sunday. All the hard work is done. Now it is just a case of having an easy week, getting enough rest and sleep, and making sure that come Sunday I am as fresh as possible. Eating is also important this week - building up energy levels by getting the right amounts of the right kind of carbohydrates - plenty of pasta, bread, rice etc.
The theory is that the hard work is already done. If not it's too late to do anything about it now. I started specifically training for this marathon at the beginning of November. Since then I have been out for 105 runs, covering 760 miles. That has taken a total of 111 hours 46 minutes and 4 seconds. 53 of those runs have been before 7am. The average temperature of those runs has been -29*C. Three of these runs were between 20-21 miles. (One of these statistics might be a slight exaggeration.)
Is it enough? I guess we'll find out on Sunday!
Later this week the Marathon Expo opens where all runners go and pick up their number and other essentials - as well as having the opportunity to spend hundreds of pounds on vital running gear!
Pop back later in the week to find out how you can track my progress online during the race.
If you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
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| It wasn't this warm or sunny! |
This coming week I only have three x 3 miles and one 2 mile run scheduled before Sunday. All the hard work is done. Now it is just a case of having an easy week, getting enough rest and sleep, and making sure that come Sunday I am as fresh as possible. Eating is also important this week - building up energy levels by getting the right amounts of the right kind of carbohydrates - plenty of pasta, bread, rice etc.
The theory is that the hard work is already done. If not it's too late to do anything about it now. I started specifically training for this marathon at the beginning of November. Since then I have been out for 105 runs, covering 760 miles. That has taken a total of 111 hours 46 minutes and 4 seconds. 53 of those runs have been before 7am. The average temperature of those runs has been -29*C. Three of these runs were between 20-21 miles. (One of these statistics might be a slight exaggeration.)
Is it enough? I guess we'll find out on Sunday!
Later this week the Marathon Expo opens where all runners go and pick up their number and other essentials - as well as having the opportunity to spend hundreds of pounds on vital running gear!
Pop back later in the week to find out how you can track my progress online during the race.
If you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Older and quicker - we'll have to wait and see
Exactly 10 years ago today I was almost certainly wide awake and nervously looking forward to running the London marathon. The training was done, but I had no idea what to expect. In the end I managed a time of 4:01:14. In 8 days I'm going to try and better that time and go under 4 hours.
As you will know if you've followed this blog since January, I am running for Christian Aid. My aim is to raise £2000 - and thanks to many of you I'm nearly there now - remember every little helps. If you want to add your support you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
Each week this year, on Thursdays, I have been posting a short video that demonstrates some of the work that Christian Aid are involved in. As you will have seen Christian Aid often work with small, local organisations that are very aware of the situation 'on the ground' and whose work transforms the communities in which they are based. The money is used to provide communities with the helping hand they need to get themselves out of poverty - and to then stay out of poverty.
One of the arguments used against giving aid is that most of the money is wasted due to corrupt governments. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby countered this argument in his blog yesterday. Click here to read what he had to say.
In a few minutes I'm off out for a gentle 8 miles. Nothing longer than 3 miles next week.
As you will know if you've followed this blog since January, I am running for Christian Aid. My aim is to raise £2000 - and thanks to many of you I'm nearly there now - remember every little helps. If you want to add your support you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
Each week this year, on Thursdays, I have been posting a short video that demonstrates some of the work that Christian Aid are involved in. As you will have seen Christian Aid often work with small, local organisations that are very aware of the situation 'on the ground' and whose work transforms the communities in which they are based. The money is used to provide communities with the helping hand they need to get themselves out of poverty - and to then stay out of poverty.
One of the arguments used against giving aid is that most of the money is wasted due to corrupt governments. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby countered this argument in his blog yesterday. Click here to read what he had to say.
In a few minutes I'm off out for a gentle 8 miles. Nothing longer than 3 miles next week.
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Tax Justice in Central America
In Guatemala and El Salvador low tax revenues are linked to massive levels of child malnutrition and lack of government resources to tackle the problems that poor communities are facing.
The poorest pay a far higher proportion of their income on the equivalent of VAT and other indirect taxes, whilst the business elite enjoy generous tax incentives. Christian Aid is campaigning to end secrecy in the international tax system which costs developing countries like Guatemala and El Salvador billions of pounds a year.
In just over a week I am running the London marathon to raise £2000 for Christian Aid. I still have not quite reached this target. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far - but if you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
The poorest pay a far higher proportion of their income on the equivalent of VAT and other indirect taxes, whilst the business elite enjoy generous tax incentives. Christian Aid is campaigning to end secrecy in the international tax system which costs developing countries like Guatemala and El Salvador billions of pounds a year.
In just over a week I am running the London marathon to raise £2000 for Christian Aid. I still have not quite reached this target. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far - but if you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring
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