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Marathon of Faith
Rex and Janet Lee have learned firsthand how much strength and stamina it takes to run a marathon -- not just the 26.2-mile race but also the marathons of adversity that are sometimes a part of or lives.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 27, 2015
My visiting teacher gave me this book years ago, but it was only recently that I found it again on my shelves -- a timely discovery since I'd taken up running fairly recently (the Lees are runners, as the title references, though I should note that there's hardly anything but passing references to running in this book) and since my dad has been dealing with cancer this past year (and dealing with cancer is really what this book is about).
Much of this book was sort of a play-by-play of Rex's cancer diagnosis and treatment, alternating between the perspectives of Rex E. Lee and his wife, Janet. What I really enjoyed, though, was the concluding chapter, "Reflections." President Lee addresses questions and thoughts that I had wondered about, and I appreciated the introspective thoughts Sister Lee shared while on an early morning run.
Maybe we don't know exactly why people we know and love have such difficult trials to deal with, but we can choose to live a happy and full life nevertheless, just as President Lee did.
Much of this book was sort of a play-by-play of Rex's cancer diagnosis and treatment, alternating between the perspectives of Rex E. Lee and his wife, Janet. What I really enjoyed, though, was the concluding chapter, "Reflections." President Lee addresses questions and thoughts that I had wondered about, and I appreciated the introspective thoughts Sister Lee shared while on an early morning run.
Maybe we don't know exactly why people we know and love have such difficult trials to deal with, but we can choose to live a happy and full life nevertheless, just as President Lee did.
October 10, 2023
The jacket of the book will give away what happens, and so will this review. The final result is not the point of the book, it is the journey of a couple as the husband receives cancer treatments and the way they encountered their lot in life. He was a successful lawyer, presenting in Supreme court cases. They had a family of seven children. He was a bishop (like a pastor) of a congregation for a time. Both ran marathons. It was interesting to read about these highly productive, efficient, smart, and kind people. What was most interesting was near the end of the book where Rex shares his thoughts more fully. He says that he had struggled with "two conflicting inner voices" The first essentially taunts him with his good memories by emphasizing that he cannot do much of what he used to. The other voice takes memories and points out ways that he can still do many of the same things because his nervous system was not affected. I appreciate that he shared that inner struggle that so many of us can relate to. Lastly, I will share his thoughts on people's attempts to explain why he had cancer and also that he got better. People asked, "why him?" People resented that he was the one to get cancer. They also asked "why did (Rex) survive while others - people who were every bit as worthy, every bit as needed by their families, and for whom just as many famiy members and friends prayed just as fervently/ are not alive today?" Rex didn't ask, "why me", but he did ask "why me?" in the context of the second question. Some would say that terrible things should not happen to good people. Some would say that terrible things do happen to good people because they are being tested for being so valiant. Janet, his wife, might say that Rex survived because there were important things to do (he became BYU president after his first treatment against cancer). Rex says that he reluctant to accept that view. He gives his three reasons. I found that part to be the most profound. 1. Other sons and daughters of God have important missions to fulfill on earth. 2. Every argument for why Rex was chosen to live could be made for others who did not survive. And other people could have taken his place. 3. If fasting and prayer on someone's behalf always caused divine intervention to spare someone's life (paraphrasing here) then the whole point of having experience on earth to be tested would be undermined.
It was a good book for me to read at the time I read it. Rex did have some inner struggle but overall, he chose to be grateful for the memories he did have and chose to live as fully as he could. He recognized how much his wife loved him and he grew in his ability to empathize with others. In the end, he dies, about 9 years after initially battaling cancer.
Definitely an insprirational book for those who want to face their challenges in life with courage.
It was a good book for me to read at the time I read it. Rex did have some inner struggle but overall, he chose to be grateful for the memories he did have and chose to live as fully as he could. He recognized how much his wife loved him and he grew in his ability to empathize with others. In the end, he dies, about 9 years after initially battaling cancer.
Definitely an insprirational book for those who want to face their challenges in life with courage.
October 13, 2019
Rex Lee was the President of BYU when I attended. I had the opportunity to interview him for one of my journalism classes. I always thought it was pretty amazing that the President of the University would take the time to be interviewed by a student for a class assignment. After reading this I am more amazed. I knew he was sick. I had no idea how sick.
February 25, 2018
I read this many years ago when I was attending BYU and Pres. Lee and recently passed away. I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed it now. I have a different perspective of their "marathon of faith" now that I'm a mother and wife myself. What a challenge to overcome.
July 13, 2009
I thought this book had something to do with marathon running (since I know Rex Lee was a runner - they have that race named after him each year), and also because another goodreads reviewer said about this book: "I especially enjoyed reading this book since I'm training for a marathon." I felt like reading a running book, so I picked this one off the shelf. However, it has nothing at all to do with running (other than the fact that the two writers like to run). It's all about Rex Lee's battle with cancer, written by both Janet and Rex at the same time. He'd write a page or two of the experience, then she would write a page or two from her perspective. Rex died right before this book went to print.
I read this right after reading Don Aslett's book "How to Have a 48 Hour Day". Don Aslett spent the whole book explaining how some people produce twice as much as others, and get so many worthwhile things done. In this book, I noticed over and over again the Rex Lee did exactly what Don Aslett talked about. And, no shock, Rex Lee was an amazing producer! He did more in his somewhat shortened life than most men could do in three lifetimes. It made me want to be better. And cooler, too. Because Rex seemed cool. And Janet too. They're just both cool. Man, I wish I were cooler.
I also was touched to see Jon Huntsman Sr (a guy I personally like a lot) was mentioned several times in this book helping out the Lee family. He started Huntsman Cancer Institute the year before Rex Lee passed away. I highly suggest donating to that worthy cause:
www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org
If anyone wants to read this, let me know. I'll send it back to D.I. soon, and my guess is that it's long out of print.
I read this right after reading Don Aslett's book "How to Have a 48 Hour Day". Don Aslett spent the whole book explaining how some people produce twice as much as others, and get so many worthwhile things done. In this book, I noticed over and over again the Rex Lee did exactly what Don Aslett talked about. And, no shock, Rex Lee was an amazing producer! He did more in his somewhat shortened life than most men could do in three lifetimes. It made me want to be better. And cooler, too. Because Rex seemed cool. And Janet too. They're just both cool. Man, I wish I were cooler.
I also was touched to see Jon Huntsman Sr (a guy I personally like a lot) was mentioned several times in this book helping out the Lee family. He started Huntsman Cancer Institute the year before Rex Lee passed away. I highly suggest donating to that worthy cause:
www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org
If anyone wants to read this, let me know. I'll send it back to D.I. soon, and my guess is that it's long out of print.
March 20, 2009
A few days ago I was talking to two of my sisters in a conference call. They were calling to cheer me up as my husband I are facing a difficult situation. During the call, my eyes were drawn to this book in my bookcase. Someone had given it to me several years ago. It had sat neglected and unread. As I saw the title, Marathon of Faith, I picked it up. I'm trying to develop greater faith, the unwavering faith spoken of in James 1:6. I decided to read this book.
Rex Lee and his wife Janet had a wonderful life. They were deeply in love, their seven children were living good lives, and Rex was earning a living doing what he loved--teaching and practicing law when they discovered he had cancer. This book describes their journey as they learned to not only live with cancer, but also recognize how wonderful life is, even in a very challenging situation. There were several sections which I read over and over and I learned from the Lee's insights. I loved how Sister Lee talked about learning to pray in a more meaningful and deep way as she submitted to our Heavenly Father's will. When she did, she finally felt the peace she was yearning for.
This book has brought me comfort and has also helped me realize that even though life is challenging, it's during these hard times that we can experience our greatest growth.
Rex Lee and his wife Janet had a wonderful life. They were deeply in love, their seven children were living good lives, and Rex was earning a living doing what he loved--teaching and practicing law when they discovered he had cancer. This book describes their journey as they learned to not only live with cancer, but also recognize how wonderful life is, even in a very challenging situation. There were several sections which I read over and over and I learned from the Lee's insights. I loved how Sister Lee talked about learning to pray in a more meaningful and deep way as she submitted to our Heavenly Father's will. When she did, she finally felt the peace she was yearning for.
This book has brought me comfort and has also helped me realize that even though life is challenging, it's during these hard times that we can experience our greatest growth.
May 12, 2009
Though this book was an interesting writing format (they took turns writing and you went back and forth between their perspectives) I really enjoyed it. I love reading biographies/memoirs and Rex Lee is one of my favorite people. I don't know him personally but have decided that he would be someone I would want to meet and have lunch with (I'm sure you've been asked that, "If you could meet any person, dead or alive..." question). I actually ended up buying the book after I got it from the library and gave it to my husband as his graduation gift last month when he graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, where Rex Lee was the founding Dean. The faith and constancy of Sis. Lee was amazing and she is the type of wife, mother and woman I want to be. Though the book was focused for the most part on Rex Lee's illness and their struggles to overcome, it tells a great story of how to LIVE life, how to be better people and serve and love. I also have been inspired by Rex Lee's love for running that was started in his late 30's, as I have recently begun running again after a few years hiatus. I am inspired by Rex and Janet Lee and hope to emulate them as I go forward in life.
February 19, 2010
I found this in a pile of books that someone was giving away at church. I knew enough about Rex Lee, a former BYU president, to be interested in learning more about his life.
Rex and his wife Janet both contributed to the book. For the most part, I enjoyed the sections that Rex wrote more, probably because I wasn't as interested in details of family life that Janet frequently included, and I wasn't able to relate to her expectations for life. It was interesting and poignant at times to learn of Rex's struggle with cancer, which ended up taking his life. I haven't personally had to deal with physical health issues in this way, but I recognized some of the principles the Lees learned through their experience to be principles that have also helped me through my trials.
Rex and his wife Janet both contributed to the book. For the most part, I enjoyed the sections that Rex wrote more, probably because I wasn't as interested in details of family life that Janet frequently included, and I wasn't able to relate to her expectations for life. It was interesting and poignant at times to learn of Rex's struggle with cancer, which ended up taking his life. I haven't personally had to deal with physical health issues in this way, but I recognized some of the principles the Lees learned through their experience to be principles that have also helped me through my trials.
March 11, 2015
I read this book 18 years ago and wanted to read it again. It is about Rex Lee, a distinguished lawyer, former U.S. solicitor general, a marathon runner. A few years after he was diagnosed with cancer he was appointed to be president of BYU. Shortly thereafter he learned he had another form of cancer. This is the story of how he and his wife dealt with his cancer, how they supported and encouraged each other and how they continued to work and remain optimistic even when they knew what the end of the story would be.
June 30, 2007
Rex Lee was president of BYU as I remember and he was dying. This book tells of the great faith he and his wife had during those long months of worry.
April 23, 2008
I especially enjoyed reading this book since I'm training for a marathon.
November 10, 2010
I was fascinated by their story and their profound insights. It was an engaging and powerful quick read that left me determined to not take health for granted.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews