Running and Outreach

One thing about running outside of your house, is that it takes you outside of your house. And when you are outside of your house, you may get the chance to see a neighbor or two outside of their house. Running has always provided this for me -- chances to see my neighbors, and today, some new neighbors.

The young couple were carrying things out of their car and as I approached their driveway, I stopped and simply asked, "Hi, are you the new neighbors moving in?" They both stopped what they were doing and walked closer to me. I extended my hand and introduced myself. And there we stood for the next few minutes getting better aquainted. They told me I was the first person in the neighborhood they had met and they seemed very appreciative that I stopped to say hi.

As I continued on my 4 mile run I was thinking about first impressions. In the few minutes we talked, they learned this about me -- I was the runner on the block, I had kids, older girls who can babysit which made them smile, and that if they needed anything I told them where they could find me (pointing them to my house) after I was done running.

What they didn't find out during this brief connection is that I know and love Jesus or that I am married to a Pastor. This, I am sure will come out in time. But for now, I will hope and pray they see His reflection in me. If they are Christian folks then perhaps they will. If they are not Christians they may not really know what they are seeing in me, only things they would understand to be kindness, love, understanding, joy, and compassion. Someday, maybe on a day I pass their house again as I start out for another run, I will get to make it clear that Jesus lives in me, and any good they might have hopefully seen, even in that first friendly and simple outreach the day they moved in, was Him. Him - reaching out to them.

Running takes me out of my house. And that increases my chances of seeing my neighbors and reaching out to them with the love of Christ. And that is a good thing.