“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” -1 Peter 4:10
Running a 5k, half, or full marathon is a fantastic accomplishment. Running long distances requires physical training and mental strength. This past Monday, the Boston Marathon was run. The first-place winner in the men’s division was John Korir, who ran 26.2 miles in 2:04:45. He averaged running a mile at 4.45 minutes. That is simply amazing. This weekend, Oklahoma City will host the Memorial Marathon. There will be just over 25,000 runners in this year’s race. Each person is running for a different personal reason. They will all run to help us collectively remember the events and the people we lost on April 19, 1995.
Running is personally challenging and rewarding. Kate Fletcher is a runner and an English teacher at Louisa County High School in Virginia. Since 2016, she has participated in a special run to benefit her high school students. Kate loves to run and to support her students. That is why she designs a run each year, where she is the only runner to raise money for scholarships.
The “Lion Pride Run” takes place each year to raise money to go directly to scholarships for local students. Each year, Kate Fletcher designs a new and creative run. The students, faculty, and community all turn out to support Kate and donate. In 2018, she ran 100 miles in a day. This year, Kate ran just over 40 miles to help her students. Her midway point was at the local Dunkin’ Donuts. The band, mascot, and students were waiting for her. They wanted to cheer for the teacher who ran so far to support them. It gave Kate all the energy she needed to run the rest of the way to the school.
Kate Fletcher is an outstanding example of service. She has dedicated so much of her life to helping others succeed. She used her passion for running to help others achieve their dreams. This is how God works in our lives. God has given each of us gifts, talents, and passions. When we use what God has given us and remember that the most important thing is to love God and our neighbor, we will make a difference.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
