I am from runs in the rain,
from repeated injuries and bottles of Aleve.
I am from bass,
vocal, instrumental, and loud.
I am from innumerable online conversations
carried on well past the threshold of sleepiness.

I am from caffeine,
from carbonated energy drinks to packets of unpalatable Gu.
I am from batches of pancakes and waffles in the morning,
providing fuel for races in the afternoon.
I am from Gatorade, granola bars, and honey,
from breadsticks... then pizza every fifteen years.

I am from “Your bass is purple!”
I am from overpowering,
from bad cables,
from poor connections,
from not knowing sets of songs.
I am from chapel practices,
from mornings, afternoons, and nights, weeks and months,
from inexplicable joy.

I am from Corvettes,
from moving a Suburban.
Age nine.
I am from Malibu Grand Prix racing licenses,
from mini virage cars and turbocharged sports cars.
I am from patience.
I am from learning to shop,
being frustrated and learning to commit my decisions to God.
I am from slippery roads,
from broken wheels and brake assemblies,
from 4-wheel drive low,
from three broken shovels, broken boards, broken cell phones, broken tow trucks,
from four hours in 90 mile per hour winds, in snow,
from friends that baffle my ability to perceive love and dedication.

I am from spike nights,
splashing through Campbell Creek,
getting lost during orienteering,
laying on dirt roads, Nowhere -
watching stars, meteors, satellites,
overcoming mental blocks,
straining for fractions of seconds,
exerting to the point of breaking,
pounding for 22 miles per hour,
dropping batons and picking them back up,
carrying tents, carrying hopes, carrying friends,
falling into hugs, week after week,
collapsing spinal columns from road irregularities,
watching friends from a few seats away,
admiring,
visualizing stretches of track,
breaking eleven seconds into hours of thought,
listening to CD’s,
listening to fears, triumphs, and encouragements,
fearing, triumphing, encouraging,
ascending podiums,
tightening spikes, tightening relationships,
from “GRACE WHAT!!”
I am from running.

I am from a love other than what I can produce,
from broken and rebuilt hearts.
I am from poor timing,
from misunderstanding,
from lack of self control,
from reliance on my own ability to maintain relationships.
I am from forgiveness,
from second chances and opportunities to yield.
I am from Christ’s love and His willingness to take control of things to make them
the best they can be.