Triathloning

by Bob Setzer, Jr.
Bambi and I are going to have a different kind of Mother’s Day this year. We’re heading to Knoxville to participate in a Triathlon. Our daughter Whitney put us up to it. Kids do that sort of thing.

Our foray into Triathloning began with a tragedy that with God’s help, was turned towards good. In the fall of 2006, Whitney’s sister-in-law, Caroline, sustained a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident. Since then, Caroline has been fighting her way back to an ever increasing measure of strength and vitality. Caroline is bright and bubbly, communicates through sign language, and is a joy and inspiration to all she meets.

In Knoxville’s Mother’s Day Triathlon, Caroline will participate with the help of her brothers, Jay--Whitney’s husband--and Reid. Caroline’s family commissioned a specially designed bicycle that will allow Caroline to pedal from a sitting position during both the cycling and running portions of the race, as her brothers provide balance and steering. During the swim, she will kick as her brothers pull her on a raft.

Caroline’s world-class parents, David “D” and Susan Owen, have devoted themselves to Caroline’s recovery and rehabilitation. While D resumed his practice as a OB/GYN physician, Susan has spent the last 3½ years as more-than-full-time mother, always at Caroline’s side tending to her needs, sharing her laughter, and updating her Facebook page! You can follow this remarkable and still unfolding story at www.caroline.can or www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolineowen. If ever there was a life story that illustrates the truth of Romans 8:28--that God works in all things for good--this is it.

The Owen family has also committed themselves to raising money for the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville, a facility that has proven essential to Caroline’s recovery. Our participation in the Triathlon is part of the family’s efforts to raise $100,000 to endow a scholarship fund for physical therapists; over $70,000 has been raised thus far.

So... Whitney persuaded Bambi and me to gear up for our part of a three-person relay team in the Knoxville Mother’s Day Triathlon: Whitney will swim a mile, Bambi will power-walk a 10K (6.2 miles), and I’ll ride my bike 25 miles through Knoxville’s rolling hills. Thus, this will be for Bambi and Whitney a special Mother’s Day, indeed. As usual, the dad--me--will be along for the ride, literally and figuratively.

Meanwhile, back at the top of Poplar for the first time in the history of our church--and I say this with no fear of contradiction--a mother will preach the Mother’s Day sermon. Julie is an excellent preacher anytime, but with the birth of Merrill (now 11 weeks old!), this sermon will hold special meaning for her and for our congregation. I hate to miss this memorable, yea, historic event. But I’m glad to know from the top of Poplar to the top of Rocky Top, Mother’s Day will be a blessed day for the First Baptist family, far and wide.