Running and Interesting Interruptions

Yesterday I ran later than usual. It was about 4pm before I got my 3rd 3 mile run in for the week. But I did get it in and made my goal for the week which was 3, 3 mile runs. I do think I will stick to running 3 milers for next week also and then perhaps the following week kick it up to a couple 4 milers. I want to continue to make sure I'm not pushing myself too hard or too fast. However, since I'm feeling pretty good running I feel a little tempted to go farther.

About the interruptions. The first occurred even before I began running as I noticed one of my neighbors walking towards me. So, I halted my take off and chatted for a while with my neighbor. 20 minutes later, I started my course.

Overall, the run went well, but I think I have more energy when I run earlier in the day. About 3/4's into my course and as I passed by the last lake I noticed a teenage male sitting in the grass writing in a notebook. Without a word, I passed by him only to take a few steps and stop in my tracks at the thoughts that came to my mind about the teenager. The thoughts were "what if this kid is totally depressed," "what if this kid is considering that life is just not worth it," "what if this kid is writing down his last thoughts." It was quite the interruption to my run. Without thinking about my next few actions, I took the thoughts and walked toward the teen. I made my presence known by saying hey, and asked him if he was doing homework. He said he wasn't so I just flat out asked him, "You're not sitting here all bummed out about life are you? You're not writing a final note, like a suicide note because if you are, I just want you to know that Jesus Christ loves you and died on the cross to save you and give you life. I don't know if you know Him but He wants you to know this." The teen looked at me and with a smile said, "No, I not bummed out. I promise." Then he took his hand up to his neck and pulled out a cross necklace from under his shirt and showed me the cross He wore. He said, "I know Him." I told him I was so glad and shared with him the thoughts that came to my mind as I ran passed him. I told him I just couldn't ignore them and had to take the chance. I told him I understood how hard it is to be a teen in today's world and that teens are checking out of life all the time to escape the pain of it all. "You just never know," I said. He then said, "Thanks for taking the chance and stopping. God bless you."

I took off running again to finish the 3 miles I had set out to do. As I ran, I was glad to have been interrupted in such an unexpected way. I don't know how God will use those brief moments in that young teens life, but I know he left that place knowing that he was noticed by the God of the universe who loved him and valued him enough to halt a stranger's run and tell him so.

Running interruptions. Sometimes, it's just a God-thing. I pray that I will always be willing to stop in my tracks, when for the sake of a soul, duty calls.