Interview with Austen Hardwick
Why did you write Ever Present?
There are many reasons behind this book, but above all I wanted to share my experience of an ever present God, which for me has been deepened both through suffering and my enjoyment of running.
How did you find the experience of writing a book?
The initial process of writing a book is wonderful; I love words and enjoy being creative. I also found it cathartic during my recovery from illness as it gave me focus for every day. The process of publishing however, is much harder work than I had imagined!
Ever Present has a double meaning in the book; could you explain the importance of these words?
The ‘Ever Presents’ are a group of runners who have taken part in every single London Marathon since it began 40 years ago. When I first read about them, I was inspired by their unique bond and sheer determination to keep their minds and bodies in a state where they could continue to participate in one of the most wonderful sporting experiences I have ever known.
Of course, these runners do not try to win the race but their goal is to arrive at the start line every April, which then spoke to me about my experience of being a Christian; how tough it can be, and how deeply I wanted to continue following God regardless of what life entails. Whilst this means my own presence of belief, I am only co-operating with grace - the ever present initiative of God.
Your love of running is a key part of the book– what do you love so much about it?
Physically, I love pushing myself, seeing what my body can do and knowing that it still works! Spiritually, running gives me two contexts in which God appears to speak; time alone (which for me takes a lot of discipline to create) and time amongst large groups of people. Whilst contrasting, both of these energise me at appropriate times. I come alive when I can encourage others, but the exhaustion and exhilaration of running remove social barriers very quickly for me and I find myself feeling fully alive.
You use the analogy of a religious ‘Tempro line’; could you share what you mean by this and why you chose to use this comparison?
The blue ‘Tempro line’ painted onto the road marks the shortest route around the London Marathon and it is best to stick to it – at least, for the elite athletes looking to conserve energy and break world records. Growing up, I believed that God had a plan for everybody’s lives and there existed only one route that would guarantee success, happiness and health. I have since learned that a relationship with God through Jesus is in fact the only overriding plan, under which we have a wonderful freedom to exercise choices and co-operate with him as we best discern within, for example, our careers, relationships or use of time.
As a Christian, I’m always looking for the ‘Tempro line’ which is neither the easiest route nor most restrictive, but a reminder of God’s gracious character revealed in Christ, guiding my choices as I take my place within society.
Why do you think the metaphor of running is so important to our understanding of our faith?
Running involves discipline, training and pain but there is also euphoria; there are hills and valleys, injuries and new friendships, isolation and new relationships born during exercise. What can sometimes feel like routine is also highly creative in terms of personal outlook and wellbeing. These wonderful contrasts provide me with a metaphor of the Christian life, which requires true determination particularly in a society where to have a faith may be regarded as a weakness. Being a Christian is an invitation to run towards God, whilst remaining aware that the race ahead will encompass a spectrum of fulfilments and challenges.
The triangle of faith, love and hope is mentioned throughout your writing; could you explain the origins of this and why you view it as being so important?
Faith, hope and love uses Paul’s words written to the church in Corinth. They formed the perfect triangle upon which to base ‘Ever Present’ because there were three elements to the story I wanted to tell. ‘Love’ represented my fascination with running, ‘Hope’ became real through my experience of remaining positive through three strokes and two brain surgeries and ‘Faith’ pointed towards my faith development, in particular enabling me to address how ‘fullness of life’ can be misrepresented within Christianity and was increasingly at odds with my own experience. Rebounding within this triangle, I emerged knowing an ‘Ever Present’ God more deeply.
You have recounted your experiences of strokes and subsequent ill-health in Ever Present; how has your illness changed your outlook on faith and life?
Life is to be seized and lived! Illness brings great clarity because it removes certain filters from our conversations and thought processes. I have always wanted to have positive relationships with everybody in my life, but lying in hospital makes you more deliberate with every visitor. The uncertainties of ill health and dramas of ambulances bring a potential chaos, but conversely I believe that I have been treated to some small clarity about the mystery of God, who instead of avoiding suffering, walks towards it with us and can transform it into something wonderful.
You have made a conscious decision about not participating on social media – why have you done this and what difference do you think this makes to you?
Let’s make one thing clear – I am no dinosaur! Like many readers, we live our lives at quite a pace. I have various roles which I value, be it as a husband, father, friend or school teacher. Being of the ‘digital immigrant’ generation, I still value face to face as a means of building relationships and try to do this by speaking in person or making time to telephone people. This may seem very outdated, but I am therefore deliberate about controlling my time and how I spend it. Although I do use social media when necessary, I also believe that I can better fulfil my roles within my family by being less distracted by its demands and more ‘present’ for them.
Do you think that physical exercise is the healthy response when things get to be ‘too much’? Why do you think it is good for the soul as well as the mind?
Absolutely. Physical exercise is liberating, allowing us the time to become more aware of our bodies and to push them to their potential. The chemicals produced by exercise make me feel switched on, more alert to those around me and promote the physical recovery of my brain and body post-strokes. I don’t use a gym, so the experience of the natural world is another harmonising benefit here. In terms of being good for the soul, running gave me a sense of being connected to the world and other people again (much like the greatest commandment to love God and neighbour.) I thrive within community, and the impact of running upon me was a greater awareness of other people and the awesome planet on which I’m gifted a life alongside them. I will never forget my first London Marathon, where this sense of togetherness and shared momentum was so overwhelming I almost ran in tears.
Park Runs have become hugely popular – why do you think that is and what can we as a church learn from that?
The best ideas are the most simple. ParkRun is free and fun; it creates community and allows people of all degrees of fitness to participate or compete at their leisure. Strangers become friends and encouragement bridges societal wariness. I believe that people need people and that we function best when we lose all inhibition and gather around our shared humanity. This is also my dream for the church, where sometimes reputation or having the perfectly successful life have got in the way of being honest with ourselves and God. It is no secret that most of my ParkRun friends would not step near a church, probably due to its image of being outdated or judgemental. We often find that God gets things done in spite of our best efforts, and I now believe that amongst that early morning relaxed gathering of acceptance, catching up on weekly news, admitting injury woes and sharing of future hopes, that he smiles upon initiatives such as ParkRun
Who is this book for? Is it just for Christians who love running?
As an author, I now see myself as a runner who believes in God and as a Christian who believes in running. I hope that ‘Ever Present’ can find its way into varied audiences, potentially encouraging athletes to find a level of spirituality in their activity or for anyone with a seed of faith to start valuing their bodies and growing closer to God at the same time. You don’t have to love running to read it, because the elements of medical recovery in themselves could provide inspiration for somebody going through difficult times. I’m looking forward to hearing about who picks it up!
What do you hope people will take away from reading your book?
Encouragement. The priority for the book is to communicate that God is not confined to church walls, but that he is ever present regardless of your circumstances. For me, he is uniquely manifest in the person of Jesus Christ, who gifted us the story of the running Father; a God who takes the love initiative and forever runs towards us. If the book serves as an introduction to a real Christianity lived out in the real world, or simply provides inspiration through the example of the Ever Present London Marathon runners, I hope it encourages the reader to take the next step, be it praying your first prayer or going for your first run.