Touch the Horizon

"We cannot live for ourselves alone." ~ Herman Melville

What does it mean to “touch the horizon?”  For me, it’s simply the idea that we, as human beings, can reach beyond what is conceivable or logical, in some big or little way, through diligence, hard work, or the like.  I am sure that these same thoughts have been articulated in a much more ornate fashion long before now, but...

I was greatly moved by an H-T profile last fall of the Krebbs family of Bloomington.  After losing a two-year old daughter to a mitochondrial disease in 1997, they received the sobering news last September that their one-year old son, Silas, was battling the same deadly disorder.

Their story stayed with me – it wouldn’t let me go.  It took a few months before I finally got the opportunity to sit down and meet with Brian, Brandy, Jacob, and Silas.  By that time, so very much had changed.  In November of 2006, Silas had worsened, been flown to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, and placed in a medically induced coma.  He was given no hope whatsoever of even regaining consciousness.  But by the grace of God and the faith of this little boy’s parents, Silas has defied all medical science and continues to not only recover, but thrive.

I struggled with what I could do to help the Krebbs family.  Silas’ medical needs seemed to be taken care of, yet I was moved to do something.  Finally, after much talk with my wife, I had an idea.  Lost in this unbelievable tumult is Jacob.  About the age of my own two children, his parents have tried mightily to provide him with all that a child needs, but the slope seems way too steep.  Financial struggles required they move Jacob from a private school, where excelled to another school where he couldn’t quite find his groove.  Jacob will be at home this fall with Brandy trying to teach him and care for Silas as well.     

So where exactly do I fit in?  As a 17-year resident of Bloomington and a city firefighter, I had always dreamed of using my position in the community to help make a difference.  And now I have the chance.  I want to try and “touch the horizon” by running in the Heartland 100 Ultra Marathon in Kansas in October to raise the money needed to send Jacob back to Lighthouse Academy.  i want to  reach beyond what is conceivable and logical and help restore some sense of normalcy to a family that has known very little.