I've decided how I'm going to do it. I've decided. I'm walking to Santa Monica, California from Jacksonville, Florida. Yup! That's how it's going to happen.

Interstate 10 is a stretch of Highway that begins in Jacksonville, Florida and extends through Florida (a very boring stretch of road) Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. It extends 2,460 miles. And I'm limiting myself to three modes of transportation - Walking, Running, or Biking. And I'm letting myself take friends along. Anyone who wants to walk with me, can help me get to Santa Monica. How?

I'm goal-oriented. I need a REASON to do something. I need a reason to BE something. So, I've established an OBTAINABLE GOAL. Some ask, "How is walking to Santa Monica an obtainable goal?" Here are the particulars...

First, I am not leaving Lake Park. I am making a chart, and I'm going to chalk off mileage as I walk here. For example... if I walk two miles on Thursday, then I now only have 2,458 miles to go until I reach Santa Monica.

Second, I'm accepting help. Why? Because no one can be truly successful at what they do or who they are without help. My friend Karen is an avid walker - like 5 or 6 times a week she walks. If she'll help me get to Santa Monica, then I can count her mileage, too. How does that help me? Because anyone being healthier is a positive thing. Especially people I care about.

If my children walk with me, and we walk 2 miles TOGETHER - then that's a total of 6 miles I can chalk off on my trip to Santa Monica. My goal is to REACH SANTA MONICA by March 3, 2008 - My 39th birthday.

Now what happens after that? Well, the earth's equator is only 7,926 miles. If I've walked to Santa Monica... that would only be 5,466 miles left to go, to get all the way around the world, (through the oceans, avoiding the Middle East altogether) back home.

I'm going to let myself do it any way I can. Because the point is not RULES... the point is GOAL. I want to get somewhere. If I walk three times this week, and only get three miles... then praise God, that's three miles off the 2,460 miles. But next week my stamina might be up to 5 miles. Who knows.

I am calling on all of you - especially those who are tired of sitting there. Help me walk to Santa Monica. If you can only muster a half mile each week, that's a help - heck, that would be 26 miles a year. I will keep track of your mileage, too, and will let you know at the end of the year how far YOU carried me on the trip.

You're probably already walking farther than you think. Buy a pedometer - and wear it at WalMart... and the mall. You probably already walk a lot farther than you imagine possible. I probably put in 2 or 3 miles every time I'm in WalMart.

So PLEASE help me walk to Santa Monica. I need your help. If you want to run, that's fine. If you'd rather ride your bike, okay. The only thing I won't count are your frequent flyer miles (no, I don't take those any more than the Airlines do) and your car mileage. No motorized or jet powered vehicles. Nothing by rail... unless your riding one of those pump-cars. Stationary bikes work. Treadmills work. If you're being chased for looting (as long as you're keeping an accurate count of mileage) that works. If the villagers behind you have pitchforks (and that happens to me way too much) okay, but I find it hard to keep up with the pedometer on those days.

Help me walk to Santa Monica. I need your help. I need your feet. I need your support. I've got a little over a year. I'm going to solicit church people. I'm going to solicit Internet Friends. HELP ME WALK TO SANTA MONICA.

See you at the PIER! Race ya!

# posted by PastorChris @ 8:04 AM