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

I will continue to pray this prayer and post on social media until there is justice for all in America. Current events at CVS, a cookout in California, a young girl selling lemonade, a young man at a pool in Indianapolis, a women wearing a Puerto Rican tee shirt and my own encounters with racist comments make this prayer even more urgent.

Praying for my brothers and sisters of color. Praying that as you walk down the street, people will not clutch their purses or bags a little tighter. Praying as you visit a place of business, you will not be hassled. I pray if for some reason you’re pulled over by the police, you will be treated with respect. I am saddened that I have to pray this prayer every day for my brothers and sisters of color, but I will continue to lift this prayer up each day. I will continue to speak out against the injustices in this world. ~OC

I believe in God’s power to heal by miracles or by medicine. I have seen God use both in my life. Whether my healing comes through a miracle of by modern medicine God still gets all the praise. Throughout this crazy/beautiful health journey, many people have prayed for my complete healing. Some of those prayers have been answered, but others have not. I am still dealing with several incurable diseases. Complete healing on earth is not always God’s plan for us. But even when our healing doesn’t come, I pray we will not waste the journey. Here are a few lesson I have learned along my crazy/beautiful journey.

1). Don’t believe your storm is a curse. My health journey has been a gift from God. Yes, a gift. Since my journey started in 2002, God has used my health challenges to teach me so many things. I have become more compassionate, patient, forgiving, less judgmental and more loving. God has also allowed me to become a health advocate, missionary and abolitionist during this journey. I have had the honor to pray with people who only had hours to live and rejoice with those who experienced a miracle. I personally don’t believe any of this would have been possible unless I was walking this health journey.

2). Spend more time in God’s word, with family/friends and less time on Google. It is easy to get caught up wanting to research everything you can when given a negative diagnosis. There is nothing wrong with wanting to find out more about the illness you’re facing. I actually encourage everyone to become their own health advocate. But we can go overboard at times. Our lives can get consumed by our health issues. Instead I would encourage you to spend time in your bible and with family/friends. That is where you will find your strength and encouragement. And believe me, when you’re going through a storm, you will need all the strength and encouragement you can get.

3). Don’t walk your journey alone. As I shared in point #2, surround yourself with positive, life speaking family and friends. I cannot imagine walking this journey alone. I have seen people do it and they were miserable. I have been blessed to be surrounded by a wonderful group of family and friends. Some have come and gone during my journey. At times that has hurt, but I refuse to dwell on the negatives. I choose to celebrate the family and friends who have stuck with me during the darkest and brightest moments of my journey. So don’t walk your journey alone.

4). Live with hope. Don’t waste your storm grieving as those who don’t have any hope. I know this is not always easy. Some days you just want curl up in bed and forget about the challenges you’re facing. Doing that every once in awhile is okay, but do not stay there. Call a friend. Take a walk. Listen to some music. Take a trip. Most importantly, reach out to God during those challenging moments. As Christians we should be living in hope. That doesn’t mean we will not have tough days, but those tough days should not define us. You are more than the current storm you’re facing. Your hope is not in the test results. Your hope is not in your medical team. Your hope is in God. He will never leave or forsake you. God is always with you. That should give you hope to make it another day.

5). Share your story. During my crazy/beautiful health journey, I have chosen to be very public with my story. That has been my choice. Not everyone wants to be so public. That is fine, but I would encourage you to share your story in some way. Not to shine the light on yourself, but to help someone else who is going through their own storm. When I first started my health challenge, I had no idea what to do. I was blessed to have some people step up and share their journey and how they survived. It meant the world to me. So, you might not choose to have your journey unfold publicly, but make sure you’re available to help someone starting their own health journey.

These are just a few lessons I have learned over the years. I pray they will help you as you walk through your own crazy/beautiful journey. ~OC

Health challenges are part of life. Everyone deals with a health issues every once in a while. When I first got sick in 2002, I thought I would be facing a short-term challenge. Never did I think I would still be fighting for my life in 2018.

My health history has not been an ordinary one. The first few years of my life I dealt with double pneumonia on several occasions. When puberty hit, I dealt with some major health issues. I was seen by several different doctors at major research hospitals around the country. But then things changed. From my middle teens until 2002, my health was on the upswing. Some minor issues here and there, but nothing major.

I share all this not for sympathy, but to share how even during the storms of life, you can still find happiness. When you’re dealing with multiple health issues, there are going to be challenges. Each day I wake up is truly a miracle. But even with all my health issues, I have made the choice to find the positives in life. To find the joy in every situation. That is not always easy, but I want to embrace this crazy/beautiful health journey. I never want my health challenges to keep me from living life. I mean truly living life.

So despite the twist and turns of your own journey, I encourage you to persevere. To embrace the crazy/beautiful journey God has you traveling. To find the blessings. ~OC

I love living in Florida. I was born and raised in South Florida. I would not want to live anywhere else. But imagine if God created the whole world to look just like South Florida. Would you enjoy that world? I wouldn’t.

I am happy that God created a much more diverse world. Instead of one big South Florida, we see the beauty and creativity of God’s creation. God created the wonder of the Grand Canyon and the coral reefs of Australia. He created the beauty of the four seasons.

God also created a world filled with diverse people. Different colors and cultures. I cannot imagine a world filled with people who only look like me or think like me. How boring would that be? No, I am in awe of how different God made his people.

I know there are some people who would disagree with me. They would love to see a world filled with people of one color and mindset. But that’s not the world God created. He must of thought how boring would the world be if everyone looks and acts like everyone else. I totally agree God.

That is why I am so passionate about speaking out against injustices against anyone based on their skin color, culture, faith, or place of birth. God created all of us with his beautiful paintbrush, full of different colors, cultures and believes. God loves diversity. And when we choose to embrace all the beautiful, glorious, messy differences of His people, I believe we catch a small glimpse of heaven. ~OC