Today’s a new day! Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you’ve come. Never give up! ~OC

Earlier this week, Laura and I had the chance to work with our writing team at RoseDale. Besides spending several hours working on our book, Laura and I had the opportunity to be interviewed by the team at RoseDale. Tampa Bay Multimedia and RoseDale make the experience fun and easy. I will post the interview, when I get a copy. You can currently see the interview at my The Blessed Overcomer Facebook Page.

As Laura and I spent time with the writing team, I truly felt God encouraging me to start looking into some speaking engagements. I have felt God prompting me to look into some speaking engagements for a few months. I remember before I got sick again in 2009, I enjoyed sharing the story God has given me. I always enjoyed the interaction with the audience. Plus, I was always blessed by the stories people in the audience would share with me.

So, Laura and I are looking for a chance to share our crazy/beautiful journey with an audience. Since Laura works full-time, I might be a solo act at times. Laura seems okay with that. HaHa! We believe our story is for many different audiences and would love to share it with them. So, if any church, ministry, small group, school, university or business would be interested in having us, you can click on the Contact Page and send me a note. Thank you. ~OC

I choose to live a life of gratitude. That is not always easy when life smacks you in the face. Can I get a Amen?

Here are some practical ways I try to live a life of gratitude:

Think of Others: When I am living in my own circumstances, it is easy to forget about the big picture. If the tragedies we have watched unfold lately as taught us anything, it is that we live in a hurting world. There is suffering all around us. When we reach out to a hurting world we are acknowledging their pain. When we are able to do that, it reminds us how blessed we are. Doing something to help someone doesn’t have to be a major project. It could paying for someone’s lunch. It could be checking on an old friend. It could be volunteering in your community. It could be taking time to mentor someone. That is gratitude in action.

Turn It Around: Life can be messy at times. This crazy/beautiful health journey I have been in for almost 16 years as been messy. It could be very easy for me to get caught up in the mess. But I decided to turn this messy journey into an opportunity. During this journey, God has allowed me to be a Missionary at doctors appointments and my many hospital stays. God has allowed me to encourage others going through their own messy journey. What a blessing that has been for me. All it took was me redirecting my thinking and attitude. Easier said than done sometimes, but I am forever grateful God helped me turn my messy situation around. God’s grace helps us find perspective when we practice the habit of gratitude.

God Has Big Shoulders: There are times when life is so messy that gratitude feels out of reach. I have experienced that several times during this crazy/beautiful health journey. When the test results and the doctors diagnosis were not what I wanted to hear gratitude was sometimes hard to find.

There were times I looked up to God and said really? Another incurable disease to add to the list. I was tired and frustrated. Guess what? God did not strike me down. He did not put me in timeout. No, He wrapped his loving arms around me and reminded me that He loved me and He was still in control. God also reminded me that I had so much to be grateful for. God had not abandoned me, rather, He was giving my wife Laura and I all the necessary things to get through this crazy/beautiful journey.

For me, living a life of gratitude is not possible without the grace of God. I encourage you to spend time talking with God and reading His word. Living a life of gratitude will keep you busy touching the lives of a hurting world. ~OC

We are all unique. We have different cultures, different languages, different colors and different beliefs. Our differences should should bring us closer together. Not divide us.

Each of us was created by a loving Heavenly Father. God created us with different talents, ideas and experiences. Yet, we all have the same basic needs. We all want to be loved, respected and accepted. We all desire to make a difference in life. We all want peace.

No one wants to be judged based on their color, culture or beliefs. We should stop judging others based on their differences and take the time to embrace those differences. Accepting those differences allows us to unite and be stronger. Accepting people that are different than us makes us better and stronger people.

Ultimately, it is our choice to judge or accept people. We will face the consequences of those choices. I believe judging and hating takes too much energy. So, I will make the choice to love and embrace the differences in the people God brings my way. ~OC

My crazy/beautiful journey has had many twist and turns during this amazing ride. I have been told I had cancer. I have completed multiple marathons. I have been told I have Parkinson’s. I ran some more. I have been told I have Myasthenia Gravis and only had hours to live. I walked out of ICU. I have been told I have Gastroparesis and I only had weeks left to live. I got a feeding tube and I heard God tell me I would eat again. Yes, I have been on a wild ride and loving every minute of it.

I have always been a pretty positive person. That person who always finds a positive in the worst situation. Yes, I am one of those people. But when your told you have multiple incurable diseases you have two choices. You can either run from the storm or embrace it. I think you know which one I chose.

My life has definitely changed during this crazy/beautiful journey. I could share all the negatives of having multiple incurable diseases. I could probably write several blog posts or a book about all the negatives. But really, how boring and depressing would that be to read? That doesn’t mean I shy away from the negatives of my current health issues. No, I have made the choice to embrace the positives of this journey.

During this almost 16 year health journey, there have been a lot of moments to embrace. Remember, we have to make the choice to embrace the giants we will all face in life. Sometimes, I have to make that choice several times a day. Believe me, it is not always easy. But when I reflect on all the awesome moments God has given me the past 16 years, I wouldn’t trade a minute. Okay, maybe a minute here or there. Let me share some of the beautiful moments I have experienced over the years. I hope you enjoy the ride.

My first half-marathon after having open-heart surgery to remove my golf-sized tumor brings a smile to my face. I had no ideal what to expect. I had never run a marathon before. So of course I made a major mistake. I started off to quickly. I did not pace myself. That caught up with me around mile six. But then a funny thing happened. I started running next to a young lady. We had passed each other several times. Come to find out she was a trauma nurse and 8 months pregnant. That will be funnier in a few minutes. We started talking and for the first time during a race, I was able to share my story. The story that God had given me. Since she was a nurse, this young lady understood all the trauma my body had went through and how me even running was a miracle. The conversation also forced me to pace myself. I was actually going to finish my first half-marathon. Oh, the funny part. That nurse who was 8 months pregnant beat me by a half a second. Yes, I got beat by a pregnant woman. What an awesome memory.

My alma mater wants me to speak at homecoming chapel. Are you sure? I loved my days at Palm Beach Atlantic University. But I was never what you would call a great student. I loved to socialize and studying was a second thought. I was not a partier, but if someone wanted to hang out I was not saying no. So never in a million years, would I ever think I would be invited to speak at my alma mater. But, God is full of wonderful surprises and I had the honor to speak at chapel. What a beautiful memory and experience.

Todd, I want you to run a 1,000 miles in one year. Those are the words I heard God speak to me on New Year’s morning in 2008. Hello God, do you remember I have Parkinson’s? This was a moment I could have definitely said no way God. I cannot do it. Who would of blamed me? But, by this time I had learned the importance of being obedient when God spoke to me. So, on that first day of 2008, I went for a run. That would be the first of many long runs in 2008. As I put on the miles, more and more people started hearing about my crazy/beautiful journey. I was blessed with many opportunities to share my story. Laura and I even had the chance to be interviewed on a local tv station. Twice! I could have easily said no to the challenge God put on my heart, but I would have missed so many blessing.

I don’t know what journey you’re walking today. You may feel like you’re drowning. Like you have nothing left in the tank. But even during the darkest moments, I encourage you to embrace your journey. It will not be easy. Believe me I know. But if you can find it in yourself to find the positives, your life will never be the same. ~OC

I think we all want to make a difference. What is keeping us from embracing what I like to call Beautiful Interruptions? I could list thousands of reasons, but I believe the biggest reason is we are just too busy running through life. Let me share a few ideas on how we can truly make a difference, if we just slow down.

1), Serve your neighbor. You can serve your neighbor by bringing them a meal. You can serve your neighbor by bringing in their trash can. You can serve your neighbor by mowing their lawn or helping them with some yard work. You can serve your neighbor by providing transportation if needed. You can serve your neighbor by checking on them. You can serve your neighbor by checking on their pet. These are just a few ways we can help serve our neighbors.

2). Volunteer. Yes, this will take some time, but the rewards could be life changing. Years ago, I started volunteering for an inner-city ministry in my hometown. I have some great memories from those days. One of the great experiences was meeting a young man named Ricky. We just clicked. Ricky was a young teenager when we first met. Today, Ricky is 30 years old and making a huge difference in his community. My wife and I are so proud of him. We consider Ricky our son. I was blessed with that type of relationship because I said yes to volunteering.

3). Gift Card. Yes, this will cost a little money, but a $5 or $10 dollar Chick-fil-A gift card could help someone who struggling to find their next meal.

These are just a few suggestions on how you can make a difference in your corner of the world. All we need to do is slow down and watch for small ways to help others. They are in front of us every day, but most of the time we choose to look away. I would encourage you and myself to slow down and look for those Beautiful Interruptions. ~OC

We use a lot of different words when discussing life.

Life is a roller coaster.

Life is filled with valleys and mountain tops.

Life is filled with rugged terrain.

Notice anything about those words?

Can you relate to any of the above phrases?

Are you currently traveling one of those roads?

Do you notice none are a straight line. That is like our journey in life. It’s never a straight line. A lot of times our lives are filled with winding roads and roller coasters. One second live is treating us well. Family is doing well. Our job is going well. Our life is filled with great adventure. Our health is fine. Then in a second, life throws you a curveball.

Your day started off with a few challenges, but nothing you couldn’t handle. Then in a blink of an eye, your life is turned upside down. Has anyone experienced one of those moments?

I have on several occasions. Let me share a few of those experiences and how I made the choice to overcome.

Mr. Shoemaker, you have cancer. What? A lot of things go through your mind when you hear those words. What does this mean? Will I survive? I not only survived, I thrived. I started running again. Not just leisurely weekend runs. I started running marathons. Not just one marathon, but several marathons a week. No, that is not a misprint. In one year, I was blessed to run over a 1,000 miles. I chose to overcome.

Mr. Shoemaker, you have Young-Onset Parkinson’s. What? How can I have Parkinson’s. I’m only 40. No one in my family has Parkinson’s. How did I choose to handle this new storm? I went skydiving. That’s right, I decided to jump out of a perfectly fine airplane. What a rush! I also became an Abolitionist. That has been life changing. I continued to complete marathons. I chose to overcome.

Mrs. Shoemaker, your husband might not make it though the night. What? He just has a cold. I wish. No, I actually had Myasthenia Gravis and was having a major crisis. I would spend months in the hospital fighting for my life. I would have to go on disability. I had to stop running. After the initial shock, I made the choice to become a missionary at doctors offices and during my hospital stays. I made the choice to turn a negative into a positive. My new goal in life was to encourage others going through their own storms. I chose to overcome.

Mr. Shoemaker, if we don’t insert a feeding tube you might last another two weeks. A feeding tube. Seriously? My weight had dropped dangerously low and my body was shutting down from the effects of Gastroparesis. How in the world could I turn this newest storm into a positive? This was one of the toughest storms I had faced. During this latest storm I spent a lot of time in the hospital. I had the chance to share my story of hope to a lot of new people. Being in the hospital definitely was not fun, but the chance to encourage others was priceless. I once again made the choice to overcome.

Yes, everything above is true. My wife and I have faced these storms together. Sounds like a book or a Hallmark movie. Well, my wife and I are currently writing a book to share our story. But, enough of that. Back to the blog post.

My prayer is that you never have to face so many major storms in your life. But I pray if your ideal life is ever thrown off course by the storms of life, you will look past the pain and challenges to find the positives. That is not always easy. Believe I know. I have to make the choice daily to find the positives. They are not always easy to find. Sometimes you have to look outside of your comfort zone to find the positives. To find your purpose. If you can find the strength to take that step, I promise your life will never be the same. Choose to overcome. ~OC

I think we all want to live a life of excellence. But what does that look like?

Living a life of excellence doesn’t mean we will not make some mistakes along the way. Believe me, I have made many in my journey and will surely make some more. Here is how I am trying to live a life of excellence.

My journey for excellence is fueled by faith and perseverance. For me, that means seeking God’s strength and direction. His endurance is needed for me to complete the journey He has designed for me. That is how I completed all those marathons back in my running days. My faith and perseverance continues to guide me through this crazy/beautiful health journey. All of us deal with obstacles in life. During those times we need to remain steadfast in the journey God has designed for us.

We have to recognize that striving for a life of excellence is a marathon. As I shared earlier, the race will be filled with some mistakes. Remember, this journey for excellence isn’t about perfection. The journey is about learning from those mistakes and never giving up. Also, don’t get caught up living someone else’s journey. Their journey was specifically designed for them.

Remember, the journey for excellence is a marathon. Pace yourself. I encourage you to seek God’s guidance daily. Ask Him to help you run the race of excellence He has designed specifically for you. ~OC

How Am I Using This Gift?:

You have heard me refer to this crazy/beautiful health journey as a gift. Yes, I truly believe the past 16 years of health issues as been a gift. Most people would not look at illness of any kind as a gift. But I decided early on in this journey to have a positive attitude To turn this journey into an adventure and share it with anyone willing to listen. I spend a lot of time thinking about how I am using this gift. Here are a few questions I ask myself on a regular basis.

Has this journey become about me? I hope not. I never want this journey to be about me. That would cheapen the story. My life and this journey is a gift from God. Yes, I share a lot about my faith. My faith is a gift. It’s something I am passionate about and want to share with others. That’s what you do with a gift. But I will never force my faith on anyone. I don’t think that’s how you treat a gift. But my faith will continue to guide this crazy/beautiful journey.

Am I using this gift to help people? I decided early on in this journey, to use my health issues to help others. I didn’t know what that would look like, but I was determined to use this journey to help someone. I never could have imagined how many hours I would end up spending in doctors offices, treatment rooms and hospital rooms. That those places would be filled with so many hurting people wanting to tell someone their story. I made the choice to listen. I cannot truly convey how honored I have been to hear those stories. I also could have never known how much social media would play in my journey. I remember telling my wife Laura, I will never be on social media. Famous last words. But social media has been a gift. It has given me a platform to help and encourage others. I cannot tell you how many times I am up in the middle of the night and will jump on social media only to see so many hurting people. I am always honored to pray for those going through a tough time. I am amazed every time someone shares how something I posted helped them. Another way I have decided to help people, is to embrace beautiful interruptions. Taking time to really see hurting people. Not just seeing them, but finding out how I can help them. I encourage you to embrace beautiful interruptions.

Do I share too much? Some would say yes. Maybe their right. But I only have so much time to share my story. That is true for all of us. So, I will continue to share my story if I feel it can help one person. That one person who is hurting that needs a positive word. I have learned that a simple story can make a huge impact.

Am I living a life of adventure? I decided early on that I would not allow my health issues to keep me from living. Not just living, but thriving. That is why I ran marathons until the doctors and my body eventually said no more. That is why I went sky diving after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. That is why Laura and I continue to travel even though my body doesn’t like it. My life doesn’t have to end, just because my body is wasting away. I encourage everyone to never stop truly living a life full of adventure Go find your adventure! Go make memories! ~OC

I have always loved running. Yes, running. As a child I ran everywhere. During high school, I ran on the cross-country team. I didn’t get my drivers license until I was 18 because who needs a car when you have legs to walk/run. Then life got busy and I stopped running for almost 20 years.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and having open-heart surgery to remove it, I decided it was time to start running again. Not just run, but start training for a marathon. So, five months after surgery and being declared cancer free I started running. My first time running in almost 20 years, I ran 2 miles. It felt great to be running again. Why did I ever stop? That was the first of many runs. I completed my first marathon a little over a year after having open heart surgery. For the next 5.5 years, I would run many more miles and marathons. During that time I would be diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s. Running with Parkinson’s is not the easiest thing. But God allowed me to keep running through all the health challenges. God even allowed me to run over a 1,000 miles in 2008. So many beautiful moments and memories from my running days. My running days ended in 2009, after my health took a turn for the worse. I miss running, but I am so happy I have all the memories.

Today God has me running a new race. I am helping in the fight against human trafficking. I have become a missionary at doctors appointments and hospital stays. God has allowed me to share my story in person and on social media. Now God is allowing to share my story in a book. Hopefully the book will be out by the end of this year or the beginning of 2019. My prayer is that my life and book will encourage others. If anyone is interested in financially helping my wife and I complete our dream of publishing a book, you can go to our GoFundMe page at The Blessed Overcomers. I am blessed my wonderful wife is sharing her part of this crazy/beautiful journey in the book. We cannot wait for everyone to read our story. ~OC