When we think of marathons, the first word that pops into our minds is likely this one: endurance. Endurance is in the preparation and in the finishing, and now it also may be in the recovery.
The images from the Boston Marathon show the shock and horror. Even with such images more prevalent into today’s society, we still disbelieve such things can happen. The disbelief of why this would happen is positive in the sense it indicates we still have a certain innocence about us. We still believe in the general good of others.
The shock at this year’s Boston Marathon hits home to many of us. It hits home because we may know people who ran in it. We know of their preparation; we know of their family support through the months and then at the race itself. If we run, we know the vulnerability of being in just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. We know the joy in the eyes of the people cheering us on. We feel the celebrations of achievement, of endurance.
As the blasts delivered their impact, we paused. It was a pause of the unknown and then turned to a pause of shock. And, the pause ended, and many jumped in to help in the best way they could.
For those of us watching from a distance, we also paused. We paused in concern for those we knew along with those we did not. We paused to gather our breath and senses of what just happened. We paused to feel the pain as best we could and then the empathetic reach of the helping hands.
As painful as this is for so many, we come back to the endurance.
Just as in the preparation for a marathon and the qualifying times, we endure.
Just as in the adjustments we make to deliver the best time we can, we endure.
Just as in the thoughts we center to work through the regimens, we endure.
Just as in the mission of bettering ourselves continues to unfold, we endure.
We endure for ourselves.
We endure for our families.
We endure for our communities.
We endure for our society.
Endurance comes through helping and giving to others. You can see the soul of endurance in the people running toward where the explosions occurred, hands extended to help those injured.
Business Insider published an article highlighting 13 examples of being “awesome” after the explosions. My guess is that you can multiple this number by hundreds and thousands as people stood up and jumped in to assist. And this will continue through the days and weeks ahead.
Endurance matches well with perseverance. Endurance delivers the strength, and perseverance delivers the steadiness in purpose. Endurance delivers the patience, and perseverance delivers the hope. Endurance is the body and mind, and perseverance is the soul. Both come together in tough times and in good times, just as we do.
Hi Jon,
This was quite an emotional post. I really liked it. I appreciate what you wrote about endurance and then perseverance at the end of the post, and the connection to what happened in Boston.
As I was reading down your post, I started to think of the power of humanity and what happens to us, when we see those close by to us suffer (most who we have never even met), and the innate instinct in us to want to help.
Thank you.
Thank you, Hiten. It gives us faith in community when we see people gather to respond in both Boston and in West, Texas. It shows our resiliency and compassion. Appreciate your comments! Jon
This was a very moving post, Jon! It was also filled with inspiration!
I loved that you placed emphasis on an awe-inspiring term such as, endurance — to discuss the devastating tragedy that happened in Boston. It was another moment that caught us off guard, and perplexed with tons of unanswered questions to ponder.
In truth, it can be extremely challenging to look on the brighter side of things, when faced with unfortunate circumstances like those that occurred this week, but the term being highlighted in your post, sheds light on why it’s so vital for us to possess a spirit of endurance.
I remember Bishop Jakes saying not so long ago, “You will win, if you don’t give up.”
That’s basically what we, the human species were made to do. Win. Our spirit knows only resilience. It’s the mind that causes feelings of uncertainty to be turned into doubt and fear.
When the world seems to be crumbling around us, and what hope we had left seems to be dwindling, we must keep going! By marching onward, we endure, we live, and we win! 🙂
Thanks for your added insights, Deone. There is a resilience we have, and tragedies bring it out. We remember how endurance is vital to prevail, and perseverance necessary to move forward. From Boston to West, TX, we see people act, care, embrace…. We need to keep these traits centered in all we do, in good times and unfortunate ones. Thank you for adding your inspiration! Jon
Thank you for your inspirational insight Jon. While the bombing in Boston is front of mind and so incredibly tragic, it’s one of many horrific incidents that we’ve witnessed with increasing frequency in recent years. It’s seems like every day there’s a headline about some nut case opening fire at a mall, school or business. If there is anything positive that has come from these tragedies, it’s having our faith in humanity reaffirmed time and again as the media provides us with a front row seat to observe incredible acts of bravery and people reaching out to each other in every way imaginable.
Marquita, I hope we never lose our sense of humanity and willingness to help out… We need to stay sensitive to the good in people and embrace it fully. Thanks! Jon
Jon – I am very moved by this post. We do endure for much more than ourselves. Making it bigger and seeing how endurance connects us to each other is powerful and humbling. Thanks, Jon for sharing this perspective on these events that we will likely never be able to make sense of… we can still endure.
Alli, Thanks so much for your comment. Very grateful for all you do and the insights you offer. Jon
This is beautiful Jon – “we endure” and we grow together as humans. We become stronger, especially together…we are so much stronger when we endure together. Thank you for writing this!
Thank you, Karen. Yes, we need to endure together… makes for a richer life. Thanks again. Jon
Timely post, Jon, framing a tragedy in a longer-term, bigger-picture perspective. There’s really nothing anyone can say to lighten the load of those who were personally affected by the explosions. However, you raised a good point about endurance through something like this. One of my friends is an ex-triathlete. He said that the best advice he ever received on training for such an arduous experience is “to see the beauty in the pain.” I really don’t mean any disrespect for those who lost someone or a body part in this tragedy. However, we can all learn to see the beauty in the pain, even if it’s seeing how the human spirit unites in endurance–to your point Jon–similar to what we saw post 9/11.
Thanks for your added insight, Alice. Even as challenging as it is, we need to see the possibilities ahead and the beauty ahead and within. Our human spirit has a lot of endurance and perseverance. Thank you. Jon
What an inspiring post, Jon. Never matched endurance and perseverance so beautifully. Both are so needed when we experience such extraordinary events and we are unable to make sense of them. We need to move forward with our daily routines and you have helped us do just that. Thank you for your caring words!
Appreciate it, Terri. Moving forward through challenging times is so essential. Thanks again for your comment. Jon