Sunday, October 30, 2011

Living Water

This is the first part of my All Souls Day Run, remembering and praying for our dearly departed. I received 43 names to pray for. Including 4 of my own, I am running 47 miles in honor and in memory of 47 loved ones.  (More on http://www.prayingrunner.com/2011/10/my-all-souls-day-run-remembering-and.html).

Yesterday I covered 21 miles. I also had a chance to visit 3 beautiful churches in Walnut Creek, CA. I wrote down their names on a post-it note which I carried in my hand the whole run. I read each name as I run and said a prayer for the deceased. I repeated this quite a few times the whole time. Approaching the end of my run, I prayed the rosary.

A touching encounter happened to me when I arrived at St. Anne's Church at Mile 15.6. The route I ran to St. Anne's was hilly and I was starting to get tired at this point. Worse, I was getting thirstier; I forgot to bring my hydration to this run so I was always on the lookout for a water stop.  However, since I ran on a trail, sometimes, there's no water stop for miles. Anyway, when I arrived at St. Anne's, I forgot all about my thirst and fatigue when I saw the beautiful church. I went around the grounds to look when a man came to greet me.  He happened to be the pastor and read my "Praying Runner" shirt. He thanked me for what I was doing, and sensing that I came from afar, offered me water. I also asked for his blessing when he gave me 2 water bottles and I went on my way.

Living Water. John 4: 13-14  Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

St. Stephen's Church in Walnut Creek, CA at Mile 7.6

St. Anne's Church in Walnut Creek, CA at Mile 15.6

St. Mary's Church in Walnut Creek, CA at Mile 20.6

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