The Jogging Partner

I have recently taken up jogging within our apartment complex. We have many running tracks within our complex and two of them can be seen from our kitchen window. I jog as a means of exercising, yet, I also jog as a great means of self care.

I was recently jogging around my usual track at about 10 p.m. The temperature was warm and all I could hear was the sermon I was listening to and my jogging shoes hitting the track with a steady cadence of one after the other. I was coming around one of the corners of the track when I saw a boy standing there. He was about 10 years old and I could tell that he was waiting expectantly for something. I approached him from his right side and he giggled as he gave me the biggest smile. He started to jog with me.

I have had kids run with me before and they usually stop after a few seconds. This boy, whose name was Eddie, kept up with me. I was surprised and impressed. I started to talk to him and he told me that he was studying English and asked if I knew how to speak his language. He was very happy to hear that I was studying his language. We had a great time as he ran with me and somehow beat me in every lap we would race around the track. Eddie had one of the most infectious smiles and giggles that I have ever seen. He would stop to catch his breath and I would jog in place to wait for him. I could sense that these were special moments and I wanted to savour them. We were forming a bond and I was not going to continue without my new little friend.

I left Eddie after about fifteen minutes and came home. I took away something very special from this experience. Partnership is a beautiful and powerful thing in our Christian lives. Eddie and I were able to encourage each other to do one more lap together. Imagine what our world would look like if we all took the time to be better partners with the people around us. The body of Christ is a strong and powerful thing, yet it needs willing and available members to partner together. We continue to discern and pray about potential partnerships here, yet I want to encourage you to explore a deeper sense of partnership in your day to day life with the people that God has put in your path.