Everyone Can Do Something

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV

In an inspiring story titled "Meet the Grassroots Run Crew That’s Changing Lives in Georgia" published by Runner's World Tuesday, the writer explained how the "We Are The Traffic" running group got started and the impact it's having in Albany. Randall King, a former Marine who also has a background in sprinting and football, decided to start a running group that meets three times a week at 5:00 a.m. (what he calls the discipline hour) when he learned from the local coroner that Albany residents were dying of preventable, health-related issues. “We live in a poor, impoverished area, so we don’t always have the most healthy food places or whatever,” he says, “But even if we don't have healthy food, we can do something and not just sit around.” So....

On July 19, Randall posted a video of himself running downtown at about 5 a.m., making an open invitation on social media for others to join him for an early morning run, and “next thing you know, people wanted to join.” There were those inaugural 16. On the next run, 60 people showed up, and there were 200 attendees for the third session. By the fourth meeting, Randall said the group had swelled to 600 people.

We Are The Traffic currently averages around 200 people per run, and they meet like clockwork on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5 a.m. Evening runs were recently added for those who can’t make it in the morning. The group began by completing just under two miles, but they’ve added laps to their downtown route and are up to nearly three miles. Walkers are welcome, and there are “road guards” and “motivators” who look out for everyone’s safety and morale. He attributes the rapid growth to word of mouth and social media, and they’ve attracted so much interest that they’ve inspired other groups in surrounding counties and cities to start their own community runs.

“People are joining all over south Georgia because of what we started in Albany,” Randall says. “I just had an idea, and all this kind of happened by mistake, and we kept it going.”

The best part? Randall reported that "We Are The Traffic is having a real-life impact on the local community. Randall has surveyed the group’s attendees and tracks data from the runs. He says people have reported that they’re losing weight, their diabetes (and other illnesses) are improving and/or becoming more manageable, and their mental wellbeing has been boosted thanks to the camaraderie of the group.” Wow, right?

Isn’t it amazing what can happen when a person sees a need and takes action to meet that need? Sadly, “good works” such as Randall’s are seemingly rare in the world that we live in today. But they shouldn’t be… Especially among believers.

You see, as servants of the Lord, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” This means that doing good works is something we should be known for. You can be sure that works aren’t what saves us, but our works show that we have been saved. In fact, this is one of the things that sets us apart as followers of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

And while Randall was “prepared beforehand” (by his talents, mindset, and life experiences) to start a running group to meet the need he saw in his community, we must understand that we are are all “prepared beforehand” differently and uniquely for the special purpose God has for us. Which means we all have different ways to meet the needs we see--and it also means that everyone can do something. There’s not one person who’s been made new in Christ that doesn’t have a gift or talent that can be used to serve others and further the Kingdom by doing so.

So, look for needs in your own community my friend and pray for God to reveal the way in which you can fill those needs. This will not only set you apart as God‘s workmanship, but will lead others to seek the One who inspires such love and action.

Heavenly Father, thank you for gifting every believer with unique skills, talents, and abilities to use to serveYou. Help us to see the needs within our community that need to be filled and to step out and do those good works that point back to You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!