J. was so cool! I talked to him at Brooks Sports yesterday about my running shoes order. It was one of those things that just has to be cleared up. When I ordered my shoes I clicked submit and it said "You're order has not been processed please correct the indicated field." I made the correction and clicked submit again...and it didn't go through until the fourth time. Yeah! Got my shoes ordered. Then I checked my email and had a notice from the bank that my account was overdrawn! I was like What the.....?
So when I called to talk to a Brooks rep J. answered the phone. We discussed how the process works and how soon the extra charges would go away and my account would be squared away. He also told me I should get my shoes by Thursday (tomorrow)! I said, "Yeah, that's just in time for my long run!" And then we started talking about running. He is training for his first half marathon too! It was like an instant camaraderie...and it centered around running. Isn't it funny when we meet a total stranger with common interests - how quickly we can be involved in exciting discussions?
The sad thing is that with us religious folks it can be the total opposite. At first we find that we are both Christian and that works well until we discuss anything doctrinally. Then we are done if there are differences. How sad is that? I can talk to a total stranger about running and be totally invigorated...but to find a fellow believer can be instantly dividing all because of denominational barriers...
What if Christians were like runners? One thing I love about a race is that there is nothing judgemental. It's like everyone celebrates that you're there and it's a very encouraging environment. I love when I'm running and the time keeper says, "You got this one"... and I'm lagging a good half hour behind the front of the pack and no where close to the finish line! Or people I don't even know are on the sidelines cheering me on with a "You're almost there!" or "Only a mile to go!" I'm sad to say this doesn't happen in the church world. We sometimes don't encourage people we know let alone total strangers!
Today - find someone different than you - and encourage them along their way.
So when I called to talk to a Brooks rep J. answered the phone. We discussed how the process works and how soon the extra charges would go away and my account would be squared away. He also told me I should get my shoes by Thursday (tomorrow)! I said, "Yeah, that's just in time for my long run!" And then we started talking about running. He is training for his first half marathon too! It was like an instant camaraderie...and it centered around running. Isn't it funny when we meet a total stranger with common interests - how quickly we can be involved in exciting discussions?
The sad thing is that with us religious folks it can be the total opposite. At first we find that we are both Christian and that works well until we discuss anything doctrinally. Then we are done if there are differences. How sad is that? I can talk to a total stranger about running and be totally invigorated...but to find a fellow believer can be instantly dividing all because of denominational barriers...
What if Christians were like runners? One thing I love about a race is that there is nothing judgemental. It's like everyone celebrates that you're there and it's a very encouraging environment. I love when I'm running and the time keeper says, "You got this one"... and I'm lagging a good half hour behind the front of the pack and no where close to the finish line! Or people I don't even know are on the sidelines cheering me on with a "You're almost there!" or "Only a mile to go!" I'm sad to say this doesn't happen in the church world. We sometimes don't encourage people we know let alone total strangers!
Today - find someone different than you - and encourage them along their way.
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