Some Ran

I have kept a close eye on the news of the past several days, especially the events happening in Boston during the marathon. Every time I see the videos on the news, I try to focus on a different individual, wondering about their survival and current condition, and my wondering also leads me to a desire to hear their story and the effect on their lives which the terrorist bombing has played. 

In the video accounts it seems like everyone is running. Of course there are those running in the race, but there were others running as well. It brought back memories of people running in the streets on September 11, 2001 in New York City. 

When such an attack occurs, the natural instinct is to run!  Run to a safer place, away from the turmoil and danger. In the Boston bombing this week, you could see that fear on the faces of those running away from the explosions. Some were not only trying to protect themselves, but their families. They were in small groups huddled together, making their way quickly out of the target area. 

There were others running in those videos, too. These were not running away from the danger, but were actually running toward it.  Some wore the uniform of law enforcement, some were firemen and paramedics, all running to see if they could help.  Then there were those not as easily detectable, running toward the danger, not wearing any specific uniform, but street clothes. They are the people I salute today. The common civilian with enough bravery inside, and concern for others motivating him to go see if he can do anything to help someone in trouble. 

All that running.....each one motivated by something associated with the disaster of which they were instantly made a part. There are things that do motivate us, sometimes to the point of urgency and we cannot rest until we accomplish that which we are motivated to do. 

It makes me remember a story from the gospels about a young man who demanded his share of the inheritance from his father, while the father was still alive. The young man took the money and wasted it in what the Bible calls "wild living." When his lack of morals had taken their toll, he was penniless, feeding hogs, and even having to eat hog food.  He decided to return to his father and beg his way back into the family. The father saw him coming a long way off. And the father RAN to meet his son, preparing a feast to celebrate his return.  I am glad that Bible story tells me of the Heavenly Father who runs to welcome me into the family, even when I don't deserve such a blessing. 

It was the writer of Hebrews who said, "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."  That is talking about your Christian life and mine. We have some running to do. Will you run next door with a plate of cookies, to welcome your new neighbor and invite them to church?  Will you run to that coworker's home, the one who lost his son in an accident, to be a shoulder for him to lean on?  Will you run to the nursing home and be an encouragement to a lonely older person?  Will you run to a baseball practice to be present for your kids?  I repeat, we have some running to do.

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