Encouraging Words

 

Dear Friends

For many years, I joined members of St. John’s in Corona’s community 5k race called “Run for the Crown”. 

Today, instead of running for the crown, I walked for the medal (above) in the inaugural “Corona 5000 Road Race" (same distance as a 5k).

I had mixed emotions at the starting line. I was thankful I was healthy enough to participate and complete the course, but sad that I was not (by choice) going to be running it. And then the official announcer and starter, among other encouraging words for the hundreds who had gathered said, “BE AT PEACE WITH YOUR PACE”.  Those words were so helpful to me at that moment! They will stay with me for a long time, and I will try to apply them to other parts of my life.

And then came the singing of the national anthem. Given the current conflict, I inwardly bristled when the line about “bombs bursting in air” was sung, saddened that we are still wondering, as the old song put it, “when will it ever end?” I think singing "Let There be Peace on Earth" would have been better, but no one asked me to pick the hymns!

Some scriptures come to mind about peace including Romans 12:18---“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”  This verse is surrounded by others, including not repaying evil for evil.

Finally, on a brighter note, just a half mile from the finish, two little girls (who reminded me of my two grand-girls) were seated on the curb with signs that said, “You got this”. Along with the words about being at peace with your pace, they were encouraging words that will also stay with me for a long time.

John

P.S Speaking of walking, last Tuesday, our new archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, began an 87 mile walk from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, to Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury where she will be officially installed this Wednesday. She took the “Becket Camino” route, with family members and others. She is using a "cane"; I didn’t. She gets a fancy new hat; I got a medal. 😊