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CONTACT

Lee Hoedl
6155 16th St. South, Fargo, ND 58104
Cell: 701.306.1266
Email: leehoedl@yahoo.com
 

COMPASSION AND PASSION BEGIN AT HOME by Lee Hoedl

As those individuals who have set out to prepare for a marathon can attest, the seemingly endless miles of interval training, long runs and intermediate workouts almost take on a life of its own, a "second job" for so many of us. And through it all, there isn't a runner who has not awaken and been tempted to skip a training run... "Who would know?," we say to ourselves.

In that answer, my friend, lies an insight I share with you along my many miles: As we groggily lift ourselves from our bed and gaze into the mirror, we silent say to ourselves, "I would." And we slowly strike out on another run toward our overall goal...

At the end of most of our day, how many of times have each of us found ourselves saying to one another, "I wish someone had done or would do something about...?" Each and every one of these questions are valid... and so many of them go unanswered.

But disguised within each particular question of "Why doesn't someone do something about...", it is my belief there is an invitation. A very subtle and silent invitation to you from the Almighty specifically for and only for you. For some particular and very unique reason, these questions prod us and invite us for a very personal answer; the circumstances that ultimately causes us to form the questions somehow strike a chord to that which we value and hold sacred. The question, "Why doesn't someone do something about..." invites each of us to personally look beyond the question and reflect deeply on what it is that we truly value and hold sacred.

Often times, my friend, when we find ourselves in touch with that with which we value, hold sacred, and are most compassionate, we discover that we are that "someone" within the question: Why doesn't someone do something? And in that realization lies the passion and compassion that can move mountains. Does that scare or intimidate you? Then find comfort in Meg Cabot's words: "Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all." What is it, my friend, that you profoundly value and passionately hold sacred that can ultimately move mountains?

As I have connected with my fellow marathoners who have also simultaneously committed to raising funds and awareness for a plethora of worthy agencies and causes from cures for heart disease and childhood obesity to ending world hunger, this very phenomena materializes again and again: they posed the particular question, reflected on its answer and took ownership for its response. And in turn, they have instilled that question in others ("Why doesn't someone do something about...?") and reignited passions in their sponsors, family, colleagues and friends.

My friend, you don't need to strike out and accomplish a marathon or end world hunger. Today I invite you to simply reflect on the areas of your life where you have posed the question "Why doesn't someone do something about...?" and allow it to reignite your passions and compassion... and then act on it. You may not presently feel that you have the skills or talents to fully address the question, but trust me when I say that if you have the courage to step forward, the Almighty will gift you with the necessary skills and talents when they are needed.

It is very tempting for each of us to hit the snooze button of Life or skip an opportunity to become involved... even when it involves those areas of Life for which we are most passionate. But as we groggily lift ourselves from our bed and stand in front of that personal mirror each morning and ask, "Who will know?"... well, we all know the answer to that question.