Pay it Forward

I’d like to take a little time to share something that happened to me today—something nothing short of miraculous.

I was on mile 7 of a 12 mile run this morning, coming up the big hill on Quivira from 119^th on my way to 135^th . I was hurting a lot worse than usual today, to the point where I was getting dizzy and I could feel the chills coming on.

By the time I reached the top of the hill and crossed the street by the KU Edwards Campus, I felt like I was actually going to pass out. That’s not good, considering I didn’t have my cell phone or any identification on me at the time.

I knew if I could just make it to a gas station in the next mile that I could stop and borrow someone’s phone.

I remember saying to myself as I was crossing the street, ‘Lord, what I’d give for a drink.’

This is NOT fabricated. This happened just a few hours ago.

Just 2/10 of a mile later, in my weakest moment, I ran into a cooler in the grass beside the sidewalk in front of Heritage United Methodist Church, stuffed to the brim with cold water bottles. Taped to the cooler was a sign reading, “Quivira Runners/Walkers: Please take one! Have fun and be safe!”

To whoever put that cooler out there this morning, THANK YOU! I know this was just a simple gesture, but for me, it was a miracle in a moment of need.

In all the years I’ve been running, I have NEVER found water set out for the taking, and this act of kindness carried me the rest of the way home.

I’ll let you interpret this story how you’d like, whether it was a gift from God or just coincidence.

I know it’s easy to lose faith in humanity these days. Just turn on the local news for fifteen minutes tonight and you’ll see what I mean—so much pain and suffering.

But today gave me some reassurance that there are good people in this world. And I am convinced to pay it forward as one of them.

For those whose faith might have been tested recently, my message it this: there is good in the world. It will find you, and when it does, be sure to pass it on.