Back in February I had the honor of representing TEAM 413 – GRACERUNNER MINISTRIES at the Rock ’n’ Roll St. Pete Half Marathon in St. Petersburg, Fla. We had a good expo, met lots of wonderful people and then ran the race on that Sunday morning.

Running can be a very humbling experience, but somehow we find the strength to persevere against unimaginable circumstances. This simple act of placing one foot in front of the other is a perfect reflection of the life that we should lead with Jesus Christ as our guide, our pacer, our coach, our Savior!

As of Nov. 1, some 123 days of my sabbatical from teaching and administrative duties at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., were completed. Using my very inadequate math skills, I believe that 64 days remain until I return to the university campus on Jan. 4. I have accomplished much during those 123 days, yet I have so much more to complete in the days ahead.