By Marie Parma
Several years ago I had the privilege of watching my grandson develop an interest
in running. He entered several “fun” races…one or two miles…and had done quite well.
Then he decided to enter a 2 mile run to benefit the local Boys and Girls Clubs in the
area.
It was quite exciting to hear him talk about his strategy for the race…about setting
a pace and maintaining it. It was even more thrilling to watch him as they began the run
and then to see him round the bend in the road and race toward the finish line! He was
first in his age division and eleventh overall with a time of 15:16…that’s a 7:38 mile! I
can tell you all about being a proud grandmother when he received his medal!
As proud as I was of my grandson, I was even more inspired by another person in
the race that day. His time was a little over 54 minutes for the 2 miles. He finished last.
He was 89 years old and walked with a cane. It was the first race he had ever entered.
When asked why he participated in the event, he simply said, “I believe in the cause.”
What a statement – I BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE. It didn’t matter where he placed in
relationship to others. He was faithful to complete the race because he believed in the
cause.
For many years I have been involved in ministry…a ministry of caring for the
congregation by lay people. The concept of the ministry is simple: PACE - Prayer,
Availability, Contact, Example. Over the years I have seen lives touched and changed as
ordinary people reach out with the love of Christ as we pray, make ourselves available,
contact regularly and be an example of love with skin on to them. That is “believing in
the cause”---the cause of Christ.
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