A MARATHON OF HOPE – SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

This day is a wonderful opportunity to consider someone who could easily make the “short list” for nomination as a secular saint. He is not canonized by any particular religion. He is held in high esteem. He is recognized world-wide for his contributions to a noble cause. In Canada, he is remembered and honoured every August when we celebrate National Terry Fox Day.

However, this reflection is intentionally shared on the day of the annual Terry Fox Run. The day many people get up, get going, and “do something” to make possible Terry’s vision of a cancer-free world. Events are being held worldwide, evidence that his dream remains alive and strong. When he came out of remission, Terry lost the opportunity to finish his marathon. Deeply and tearfully passionate, he expressed hope that his dream would remain alive. It has lived on, long after he went home to God.

News reports and documentaries feature a young man bravely dipping his foot into the frigid Atlantic Ocean. It marked the official beginning of the cross country run he had given a name: Marathon of Hope. Terry could not have felt the cold – it was his runner clad prosthesis that he dipped into the water. He did not hide his loss under his clothing. In his time, that alone is noteworthy. Many people carried a sense of shame for the physical evidence of their strong will to live. Cancer was a word often spoken in quiet whispers.

He, and many countless others, have courageously spoken difficult words aloud. They overcame painful feelings of guilt or shame. They moved beyond any sense of fear. They carried something far stronger: hope. Often, it was hope for a better future for all.

Hope that allowed Terry to get up every morning for fifty-eight days and run a marathon – an actual physical marathon – every single day. While he deserves a standing ovation for that consistent effort, Terry’s marathon began long before that. It began the moment he knew something was amiss.

For everyone who faces any life-changing challenge, there are many difficult moments. It can be especially painful to live in and through the times of uncertainty: waiting for an official diagnosis; the release of a court document; the outcome of an interview; the safe arrival of a newborn; or for someone to awaken from surgery, knowing that life-altering news may soon follow. Varied are the life events that will require us to dig deep, searching long and hard for the hope hidden within.

That special something allows us to turn away from the darkness, doubt, despair, and dread that can sometimes threaten to overwhelm our hearts and minds. That special something that others can hold for us when we have misplaced our own sense of hope. That special something that can give us a thread of hope to hold onto. An invisible thread that is mysteriously “enough.”

Emily Dickinson, in her often-quoted poem, offers us a lovely image:

Hope is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

 And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all –

When we are keenly aware of our littleness in this vast world, her words might lead us to ponder another piece of wisdom that can go a long way to releasing us from fear and restoring our sense of hope. We are reminded of a solid truth: God’s eye is on the sparrow. We are not unworthy or insignificant. That can lead us to the inner place that is too deep for words. The place that knows we are not alone. That we are loved. That this love never ends.

We dare to step into something new, even when we cannot feel anything. We receive the courage to begin our own marathons of hope. We are mysteriously blessed with wisdom and strength. Sometimes gracefully, sometimes awkwardly, we continue moving forward.

Brenda Merk Hildebrand has a deep passion for lifelong learning, education, and spiritual and palliative care. She appreciates the opportunities that have come her way to share life’s transforming journey with others: one-with-one, through intentional group settings, in animating workshops and retreats, and by way of her writing. Brenda is a long-time contributor to Living with Christ.