One of my favorite expressions is hearing someone say “God is working in your life,” or “God is doing for you what you couldn’t do for yourself.”
It was mid-March and winter was its bitterest. H was post-surgery/early chemo, and (to use an expression I DON’T like), it was what it was.
Clearly, even with a blend of faith and confidence, in reality we all needed a positive focus. It came in the form of the Jack Roth Rock/Walk Run.
Hal had been receiving steadfast love and prayers from family and friends when about that time Leslie (Rowland School émigré to Maryland), mentioned the fund. Supporting research and treatment at Columbus’s James Cancer Center, this non-profit effort is her family’s memorial to a lost loved one. The drive culminates with a 5K race May 30.
Bogarts are not known for track and field. We are family though, and united. In an instant we recognized an opportunity to rally ‘round the flag. Founded by our life-long friends, the Jack Roth Run was the perfect polestar for our imperfect world.
Margie, Hal and I sat drafting around the kitchen table. Succinctly, the message rang clear: “This fund, this year, strikes close to home.” Hitting the internet that night, we posted it on the race sight, on Facebook, and on faith.
Support, from the very first has been overwhelming. Caroline’s friend donated within minutes; to this very moment, two months later, the message of love for my brother and hate for the disease has been continuous and gratifying. Each gesture, be it from old friends or old colleagues has not only bolstered a worthy cause but strengthened my brother. And all of us.
The past ten weeks have seen chemo end and spirits steady. Hal’s had good days, bad days, and oh so much time on his hands. Eyeing the “run” that was once so far away helped us all keep our eyes on the ball.
Calls from friends,… postings to the fund—everyone that reached out—
gave my brother, gave each of us that shots in the arm that said “Guys, you’re not alone. Hal, we love you.”
Rodney Dangerfield used to end his monologues by urging “Just give me one of these!” Harold Dale Bogart got a lot of “these.” We all did.
Snow melted. March became April became May. The winter of our discontent—over.
Next Saturday our clan of not-necessarily-Olympians will hit the road for the Run. Together. Three cars, two hotel rooms, one cause.
Columbus will offer family, friends and yes, a myriad of new faces each united in love, spirit and battle against disease. Still, even the drive down will be fun. Replaying the last months, sprinkling in requisite Aunt Helen stories, and—as always, laughing.
None of us, of course, will actually run. We’ll walk. Side-by-side. Together. And THAT, to be sure, is God working in our lives.
“We’ll travel for miles in our Saturday smiles
And then we’ll move on—
But we will remember
Long after Saturday’s gone….”
Dory Previn