Faith Over Fear: A Look Back, A Leap Forward

2016 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus marathon

Almost ten years ago, I sat in my favorite tub, muscles aching but heart full, having just completed my first marathon. 26.2 miles. Four hours, 58 minutes, and 48 seconds of relentless forward motion. A finish line that wasn’t just about miles covered but about a battle won within myself.

Back then, I marveled at how I got there—to the marathon finish, yes, but also to that very moment, soaking in hard-earned stillness. Because just two years prior, I had sat in that same tub, but under entirely different circumstances.

At that time, my world was unraveling. My marriage was ending. My home—once my safe place—had become a space of tension, fear, and anger. Moving my daughters into a rental home down the street was an act of survival, a desperate move toward peace. I needed to show them what breathing freely felt like. But deep down, I was terrified. How did I get here? How would I ever get out? What choices did I have?

Pity and self-loathing are truly a waste of time and energy. But back then? I was a full-blown electrical storm of why me? The fear was paralyzing. The guilt suffocating. There were days I couldn’t even cry—just lay there, numb.

But fear doesn’t get the final say.

That marathon wasn't just about crossing a finish line; it was about proving that forward motion—no matter how slow—is what gets us through. Fear didn’t finish that race with me—I left it eating my dust. 

And faith? Faith carried me. It still does.

I didn’t get here by sheer determination alone. I didn’t muscle my way through with perfect training or some magical formula for success. I ran towards the hope of better days. I got here because, even when fear gripped me, my faith was stronger. Faith has been my anchor in the hardest moments and my wings in the boldest ones. It has carried me through loss, grief, uncertainty, and doubt. And it’s propelled me into a life I never could have imagined back then—one filled with purpose, resilience, and the ability to help others step into their own strength.

Embracing THE moment... any moment... takes practice and a lot of help. Being 'present' is an energy and a spirit of well-being that, once you've had it, you crave and seek it. But the irony is, you can't find it by searching. It comes when you're aware, open, and IN the moment, not chasing after it.

For over 15 years, people have told me, Karen, you need to write a book. I’d nod, smile, and let the idea sit in the back of my mind. But deep down? I felt that fear creeping back in—the same fear that tried to keep me from leaving, from running, from believing that life could be good again.

And now, here I am.

On April 1st—no joke—I am publishing my first book, Six Steps in the Bright Direction: Your Roadmap to Resilience, Revenue and Results. Is it the book burning in my soul? No. But it’s a start. It’s another first step. It’s another moment of choosing faith over fear. Sharing my story, what got me to each finish line and keeps propelling me to the next.

Looking back, I see that finish lines in life aren’t about proving our worth. They’re about remembering who we are. They’re about standing in the moment—not desperately seeking some fleeting sense of peace, but allowing ourselves to truly be in it.

So, if you are in the thick of your own marathon—whether it’s one of grief, transition, rebuilding, or rediscovering yourself—maybe you’re wondering, How did I get here?

Maybe the better question is: What’s my next step forward?

Because fear doesn’t have to finish the race with you.

Faith will carry you if you let it.