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!
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