Running Solo in Community

I have been thinking a lot about my local "running community." I need to use quotation marks because I don't even know most of the people I'm thinking about by name. Also, not all are runners, but they are people I come across on a regular basis when running in my neighborhood.

Dave, my husband, and I have nicknames for some of the regulars so that we know who we are talking about. There is "Newspaper Guy", "Runner in the Middle of the Road", "The Walking Woman" and the "Runner with the Headset." We mean no disrespect, but we don't these people's names; however, if we don't see one for a while we wonder about them. Are they okay? Maybe he just ran a marathon and is resting or maybe we were just too early or late to see him/her.

Even though I don't have conversations beyond "Good morning" with any of these people I know that if I were in trouble they would stop to help me. I also know that they notice my absence, "Newspaper Guy" even commented on the fact that he hadn't seen me much lately once. I feel we are a community of people that are up and out early in the morning. Our reasons for being out are different, we are all different ages and I'm sure we work in different industries, but we are a community.

We also notice someone different; we are willing to welcome him/her into our community, but I admit a bit of hesitancy. I realize this sounds ridiculous because we are not a tight-knit group, but it takes me a few times of seeing a new person to completely accept that he/she is part of the routine. I think this is in part because for me running is a solo activity. It is a time for me to be by myself with no pressure to think about anything or to speak to someone; a time when I am open to hearing God. Being an introvert, this time alone is important to me and also necessary.

Yet, I want to see the regulars and greet them. If I don't see anyone it seems weird. Dave and I have even joked that all is right with the world when we see two or three of the regulars. I want to be alone, but to know that I'm not alone.

I was thinking about this today as I was one of 7,000 runners at the starting line for the Buffalo Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Race. I ran the Half Marathon but all runners start at the same time. As I was standing among 7,000 people that all share an interest and are willing to talk to whoever is next to them in the starting chute I was reminded how big the running community is. I'm a middle-of-the-field runner so I was surrounded by runners for the entire 13.1 miles. There are a few small hills along the course and it was amazing to see this sea of humanity in front of me as I was running at the top of the hills.

Each runner has a story, their very own reason for being on that course. For some it is to raise money for a good cause, for some it is to get/stay fit, for some it is to celebrate life/health/recover, for some it is to push a person who cannot walk or run for themselves. We are a very diverse group; young and old, tall and short, black, brown and white, fast and slow. We have our own triumphs and set-backs; success and failure; joy and sadness. We are different, but the same; we have a common goal, to finish the race. We are each on our own journey, but the finish line is the same.

The thing that always amazes me when I run a race is how other runners cheer each other on. If the course is a loop, the leaders pass the rest of us on their way back; and the runners in the middle or back of the pack cheer on the leaders. Some of the leaders then stand near the finish line cheering on those of us that are behind them. Today I heard one of those runners shouting, "Keep going! You are doing great!" We all care for each other, even if we don't know one another.

I may be running solo, but I'm not alone. I am part of a community who cares for me, even if we aren't friends. Isn't that what Jesus commanded us to do? We are to love our neighbor, and our neighbor is everyone. We don't need to know each other's name, but we do need to love one another. That means we care for a person no matter how different from us he/she is. Maybe all we need to do to show we care is to smile or hold the door open for someone. We are all on our own journey through life, but we are not alone. We need to be there cheering others on, no matter where they are in the race of life. Our finish line is the same, so let's share the journey!

God in Mothers (Happy Mother's Day!)

I read recently that parents shape their child's first image or perception of God. As I was sitting in church today listening to a great sermon about God's love being in all of us, through Jesus, I was thinking about this statement. The Gospel lesson for today in the Revised Common Lectionary is one that makes you go "huh?"; until someone breaks it down. The reading is John 17:20-26, this is Jesus' prayer after the Passover meal before he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and ultimately His death. There are a lot of "me in you", "you in me" and "I in them" statements. The bottom line is that Jesus knows the love of God and because His followers know Him, they also know the love of God, or at least that is Jesus' prayer. (You can read Fr. Sean's sermon on his blog if you're interested; its worth checking out.)

The first place we experience (or don't experience) the love of God is in our homes. It is how our parents treat us, each other and others. Whether we know it our not, parents are a child's first experience of God. So each time a mother loses sleep to comfort a sick child, he sees a God of healing. When a mother listens to the anguish of teenage drama, she sees a God of comfort. When a mother scolds or disciplines a child, he sees a God of justice. When a mother drops everything to come to the aid of her adult child when suffering, she sees a God who is always present. Sorry to cut the dads out of the picture, but it is Mother's day!

I think of what I have learned from my mom through the years. I learned that God is patient as my mom tried to explain to the fire-year old me that I HAD to eat the Jell-o or I'd end up in the hospital when I was really sick. By the way, I also learned that God is wise since I didn't eat the Jell-o and ended up in the hospital. I learned that God's love does not depend on my attitude or emotions when I was a teen who insisted on doing everything the hard way. I learned that God is always there to bail me out of my mistakes when as a young adult she had to literally pay for my mistakes and then have me move back in with her and my dad. I also learned that God respects everyone and responds to each person according to their personality by having the privilege of working with her.

I carry these lessons with me each day and they influence who I am, what I do and what I say. Until today, I didn't realize how much my mom has represented God to me and others. As a professional in faith formation, I tell parents that they are their children's first teachers of the faith. But it goes so much deeper, they are God to their children. I wonder how we might parent differently if we thought of ourselves this way. I also hope that my children are learning that God is in love with them, unconditionally, unabashedly in love with them always.

Thank you to all the mothers and mother-figures who have shown the love of God in so many ways to their children! You have answered the highest calling and influenced the world!