Odds

And There Was Light (book review)

/ johngregoryjr / 2 Comments

Last year I came across Jacques Lusseyran’s story by reading a collection of his essays. Before I left on my Christmas road trip last week while looking for an audio book to listen to, I was thrilled to find Lusseyran’s memoir, And There Was Light. What a story to listen to during this season of the year!

In my 2024 Library posting that you’ll find tomorrow, I’ve called this book the most thought-provoking book I read this year. Here are five reasons:

  • Lusseyran convinces you he can see light despite being blind
  • Lusseyran and his young friends lead a significant Nazi resistance in France
  • Lusseyran shows you the power of words, both spoken and written
  • Lusseyran reminds you of the strength of the human spirit whose foundation is faith in God
  • Lusseyran proves odds can be broken

There are so many quotes worth noting from this memoir. That’s one downfall to listening to it-unable to highlight them. However, I’d encourage you to listen to it rather than read it. Andre Gregory’s narration draws you into the world of a blind child who grows into a hero, a choice he made so all would be drawn to the light.

If you are a lover of history, check out this book.

If you enjoy World War II stories, check out this book.

If you are clueless like I was about the French resistance, check out this book.

If you wish to better understand the world of the blind, check out this book.

If you wish to shine light into the dark, check out this book.

Four Corners Quad Keyah Series Lesson #5

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Sunday came. There were two obvious changes. 1) The start time was 30 minutes earlier. 2) The temperature was 12F, by far the coldest day of the weekend.

I thought I was ready. Sure, I was a little tired from the previous two days, but I’ve been more tired and sore at a start line. I felt like I was layered properly. I believed I had eaten and hydrated well. We were running the same course they had ran on Thursday, which I didn’t run. I had been told, however, that it wasn’t a hard course. My mindset was, “Pace yourself. This shouldn’t be too bad. Do what you got to do and hit the road back to Albuquerque.”

For this course, we first were to run a 5+ mile loop twice in a direction that was new to me. About a mile in it became apparent for the first time that we were gradually running uphill. No canyons on this course like the previous two days. Just straight, but up.

I had thought any concerns about elevation were over. It had not been an issue the entire trip.

It became an issue around mile two. The loop included a turnaround at the top of a hill roughly 2.75 miles in, the highest peak of all 39.3 miles of the weekend. I got there, but it was doing a number on my breathing. Thankfully, to finish this loop was downhill, and I could relax.

I came through the aid station. After getting some fluids, I headed back out for loop two. I knew what to expect. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. What I didn’t know was my body was shutting down.

Lesson #5: Most likely, there is a way to finish what you started. PIVOT.

It was probably a combination of two things: dehydration and elevation. Hard to tell in the moment. But all the signs were there-at mile 6 of 13.1. Not a good place to be at 12F. 

Running the remaining miles wasn’t going to happen. PIVOT #1: Walk/run the rest of the race in order to finish.

I was layered to run in 12F, not walk. PIVOT #2: Keep moving and get to the car for a self-enforced medical timeout. 

That was a first. Thankfully, it was an option. Since we ran by the parking lot to finish each loop, I knew all I had to do was get back to my car to warm up and add another layer. That was my focus for the next four miles. Without the hope of a medical timeout, I’m not sure I would have finished that loop allowing myself to experience the coldest walk of my life.

Chances are wherever you find yourself on your journey there is a way to finish it. Yes, there are those times it’s not the best answer. In my 76-race history, that’s only happened twice. Those odds are pretty good.

In the moment when it’s clear it’s time to pivot, don’t hesitate. There are options. Surrender to finding the best one and take it. The medal will still be waiting for you when you cross the finish line. This time it will say, “I hang around Pivoter’s necks the same way. Let’s go take a nap.”