While I was in the midst of the pain and agony of the cowtown half marathon last Sunday I saw something that I never in my life would have expected. Somewhere in mile six there was a shorter but steeper hill that went around a set of stairs (thank goodness we didn't have to use the stairs!). While I was jogging up the hill I was thinking complaints about every ache and pain that was feeling. In the midst of my complaining I saw an extraordinary woman. She was jogging up the hill and obviously using every ounce of effort that she had to give to keep going. She was short and had a little more junk in her trunk. The thing that initially struck me about her was that she was running with her hands raised up in the air. My first thought was somewhere along the lines of "what the heck is she doing- that chick psycho! Doesn't she know her arms are going to be killing her by the end of this?? Besides that it hurts proper running technique which would make this way easier. Bottom line she is crazy!" Then I realized the most amazing thing.... She was praying and worshiping God. I almost immediately felt like Jesus slapped me across the face. This lady was going through the same agony that I was yet she wasnt complaining. She was rejoicing. What in the world was I doing wasting my time and thoughts on stupid complaints when instead I could be using them in a constructive manner. I passed her and kept going but often along the race thinking about her. I found myself wishing I had taken the time to meet her.
Real fatigue set in at about the 9 mile marker, which just happened to be where the most wretched hill of the course was. It seemed to go on forever at the time. I used my inhaler and began walking only this time it wasn't just to catch my breath. The inhaler caused me to become pretty dizzy at about mile 10. I was still walking and I hear a voice over my left shoulder saying "come on, keep going, you can make it!" Etc. She tugged on my arm and motioned for me to start jogging with her. Had it been any other runner on the course I probably would have rolled my eyes at them. For this lady though I started jogging. As we went along I started talking to her. I thanked her for encouraging and pushing me forward cause at that point I really needed it. We went forward switching between walking and running. When we got to the next hill I suggested we run up it and get it over with. She said she wasn't up for it but insisted I go along and then continued to scream encouragement to me the whole way up the hill.
Alejandra changed my perspective that day and I am so thankful that I got the chance to meet her. I wish I could personally thank her for being a great example of how someone in the body of Christ should show His light and love in this world.
