I’m surprised by how many “Life-lessons” I learn when out on the trail.
This weekend, I learned a new one.
A good friend of mine set his sights on running a 100 mile trail race. In the latter parts of a race like this, he is allowed to take on a “Pacer”. The pacer is another runner, with relatively fresh legs, who can help mentally push him to the finish line. I put in 25 miles overnight to help my friend finish this (crazy) test of endurance. Along the way (and I had a LOT of time to think) a few parallels to the REST of my life emerge:
1 – You don’t need to have experienced the pain… to help another through it.
I have never run, nor ever aspire to run, 100 miles. But just being there to watch the highs and the lows encouraged my friend to finish. I couldn’t say “I know what you’re going through”… I really didn’t. When he started running, I was still 300 miles away… in bed. But he mentioned later that just having me there kept him fighting.
2 – Learning when to speak, and when to listen is important
On the trail, we had many wonderful conversations. And we had many long moments of silence. There were times I needed to help my friend by distracting him and telling him a funny story. And there were times we just needed to keep moving forward in silence. There were times when I could say something like “Way to go… you can do this”. And there were times that saying something like that could have earned me a shove into the woods. In many of those times, I just prayed for him.
It’s the same thing as I come along side a friend going through any other struggle. Sometimes I need to send a word of encouragement, and sometimes I need to stand by silently and just pray for them.
3 – Don’t neglect your own needs
My focus for this run was singular. Get my friend to the finish line. But in the context of his 100 mile run, it was easy to forget… I’m going 25 miles and 25 miles is still a very long ways.
I found it easy to focus on his needs and even easier to forget what I needed to do for myself on the run.
As we help others who are going through life struggles, be sure to keep your own tank filled. Take time to talk with God. Take time to examine your own life and your own family. Don’t neglect your own well being to the point that it could become damaging.
These are some lessons I am going to take with me for the rest of my life as I work on coming along side others on this long journey we are all in together.
(Image Source: Flickr)
Well put Carl. I especially like the comment about taking care of your own needs. Too often it’s easy to focus on something other than ourselves (job, spouse, kids, etc.) and we neglect our own needs in the process.
Had you neglected your own needs, there would have been no way you could have helped your friend.
Thanks, Carl, for being there for that runner….because he happens to be my son. I was at home praying for him throughout the run; worried, concerned, and yet so proud of him. You showed the love of Jesus as he worked so hard to finish that 100 mile race! I’m so proud of him, and so proud and thankful for you. Thanks for caring and for being such a wonderful friend to him!