Running God's Race

Last night I ran into a lady whom I've crossed paths with so much recently. She was in Junior League when Rebecca and I joined in 2005. Early last year, she and her family started attending our church (she stopped coming, though, about 10 months ago). Her daughter, who has a crush on Rebecca's son, Hayden, is in Hannah's class at school. And, even more recently I've seen her jogging around the neighborhood.

I ran into her at HEB at about 10:00 last night. When I saw her AGAIN, I said, "OK, God, your servant is listening what do you want me to do?" Usually, I give her a polite "hi," but something told me that I should strike up a conversation with her. While we spoke, I asked her if she was training for something (since I'd seen her running). She said that she was doing the marathon in SA! We talked about that awhile, and then church came up. She sounded like she wanted to come back, but was maybe embarrassed by not having been in so long. I went on and on about our new pastor, who is wonderful, and I could see her curiosity rise. Then, I mentioned that she and her husband should join us for Home Team one night, and her eyes lit up. I think that she was thrilled. An invitation was all she needed. She said she'd be at church this weekend.

Sometimes, that's all it takes. All I needed was an invitation from Lindsey to run this race. It's probably not something that I would have signed up for myself, but because she asked, I was willing. Another friend of mine asked Robin and I to run a 10K last weekend. Another invitation. We did it. And what fun!

We didn't break any records (although we did take 2nd and 3rd in our age groups!), but I felt Christ at work that day. As we ran along the beach, catching up on what had been going on in each other's lives, I was acutely aware of everything around me. The smell of the water. The cool breeze. The warm sun. The crunch of the sand beneath my feet. God is so good.

As we neared the end of the race, we ran up on another runner who was having trouble finishing. She felt nauseous and she said she couldn't feel her fingers. I will admit that, for me, all bets would have been off during a "real" race. I probably would have given her a polite "you OK?" and then been off. But, God had been working on my senses all morning. And, there was no question about the right choice. We stopped to make sure she was OK. Watching Robin "work" was a God moment. We were maybe 300 yards from the finish line and we were WALKING! (Something oh-so humbling for me). As we walked beside her, reassuring her that all would be OK, I was reminded that Christ stops and walks with me when I'm struggling. Who am I to deny that of someone else? Robin has a gift...she makes others feel good, feel brave, feel unburdened. As she spoke to the runner, I could see a transformation in her. She felt renewed and energized...she just needed a little pep talk. (You were a cheerleader weren't you , Robin?) The lady felt well enough to run the last 50 yards into the chute. Robin and I were right behind her.

As I did my Bible Study this week, Beth Moore wrote that, "In God's economy, the way up is down." And, all I could think about was humbling my prideful spirit long enough to let someone who was struggling in the race pass me by. You know what, though? It felt great to do it. Isn't that what we're here for? To humble ourselves and lift others up? Sometimes that's hard to do...especially when I really wanted that sandollar trophy! ;)