Most people think running is a solitary sort of thing. It certainly can be (and usually is) for me. I put on my running shoes, crank up the music and just go. If the weather is good, I go outside. If it isn’t, I hit the treadmill in the basement. I don’t pretend to always enjoy it, but I try to be disciplined about the schedule. I know it’s good for me and I’m always happy that I went. Lately though, I’ve found that running, like faith, sometimes needs a community component. Sometimes my older son (who is an actual runner, not a poser like me) will come with me and distract me while slowing himself down to keep my pace. He’s a terrific cheerleader. When I want to faceplant on the trail and die, he always urges me, “Just a little further, Ma!” When I finish, he always says “Attagirl, Ma!” Last weekend, I had planned to try and go 6 miles, which is further than I had ever gone before. But it was so ridiculously hot! I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to run outside and frankly, I couldn’t face that distance on the treadmill. Then my best friend said she would go with me. And my husband said he’d follow on his bike and carry extra water. Our own personal sag wagon? What’s a girl to do? This girl went, as early as we could manage. We covered six and a half miles on the Sligo Creek trail. It wasn’t fast, but it was long. I’ll tell you, if either Jeff or Karen had decided that they weren’t up to it, I would have bailed. I needed them to stay on track. And I know that sometimes people need me to keep them on the path. Faith is the same. There has to be a solitary component- when it comes down to it, in the end it’s just you and Jesus. But as fellow believers we also need to be able to lean on each other, to encourage each other, to support each other. Thanks for being there for me. I’m going to be here for you!
