Wednesday, December 22, 2010

In God We Trust

I ran into my runner friend today after a dawn mass at church. We trained for and ran two marathons together in Sacramento, CA. We ran many a prayer run during training and had some memorable faith sharing while carbo loading on marathon eve. We share a lot of things in common, including a knack for wit and humor. Every time we see each other, we know that we have some banter up our sleeves to try to outwit the other. The other thing we have in common is our contemplative nature. We have just as much depth as fun once we start talking about how we're doing. After an exchange of good-natured teasing, we simply start catching up and reassuring each other that God continues to work in our lives.

I've learned a lot from him specially because of his faith-filled life. Always with a smile on his face, he seems to find God in every person, every event, and every little thing. He shared to me one of his practice every time he goes out for a run, which I like to write about today. In his house is a jar half full of change. It used to be empty but it gradually filled up to where it is now. He said that it is a reminder of how God has showed confirmations to his prayers. When he's praying about something, he usually asks for a sign. Some of the signs come when he's running. Those signs are the change that he picks up from the ground when he's doing his running work outs. Those change he said doesn't belong to the ground. He considers every penny and change sacred because of the words inscripted on them "In God We Trust". He accords a measly change with reverence by picking it up, putting it in a special jar, and taking it as a confirmation of God to his prayers. Such is my friend's awareness of God's presence in everything.

It's too bad we couldn't do a run together after the Mass today. However, our brief meeting was enough to remind me to keep trusting that God continues to work in every person, every thing, every time.

3 comments:

  1. Love your friends' outlook on change! I do the same thing, pick up change I see as I considered it "pennies from heaven"... I lost my Mom 5 years ago to melanoma and feel comforted to know that she is above me showing me signs of her love.

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  2. I hope I can find signs like that as well. I badly need one.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sir Joey! :)

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  3. Merry Christmas, Rina! Perhaps the signs are everywhere; we, including myself especially, just need to be more aware.

    @Leslee, you are lucky to have your Mom still showing her endless love for you.

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