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Running a 5K isn’t easy. The course stretches 3.1 miles long and can be filled with hills and headwinds. Successful runners know it takes a good pair of running shoes, plenty of training, and unflinching endurance to finish strong.
And it doesn’t hurt to have a good running partner, either.
In the summer of 2013, 9-year-old Boden Fuchs was participating in the Venetian Festival 5K Run in Charlevoix, Michigan when he got separated from his group. Fortunately for the young boy, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Myles Kerr came jogging up behind him wearing his “boots and utes” with a heavy ruck sack slung across his back.
The little boy seized his opportunity and asked, “Sir, will you please run with me?”
As any red-blooded American hero would do, Kerr slowed his pace, and jogged alongside the struggling boy and encouraged him the rest of the way. It took a while for little Boden to cross the finish line, so long in fact, that Kerr’s fellow Marines feared he had become dehydrated or injured. When the Marines went looking for their comrade, they found Kerr in lockstep with Boden, coaching him to the finish line.
Kerr’s kindness to the boy was leaked to media sources and the story quickly went viral. Kerr’s only response was, “I was just doing what any man would do.”
The Apostle Paul would say that Kerr was doing what any Christian would do.
While writing to the Philippians, Paul talked about the race he was running with and for his brothers and sisters in the faith.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16)
Paul ran his race in such a way as to bring others along with him. Lcpl Kerr did the same. The only thing better than finishing the race in first place is helping someone finish their race.
Click here for the online report.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Encouragement
Endurance
Fellowship
Help
Humility
Kids
Mentoring
Military
Race (racing)
Sacrificial
Training
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
