Flock of Runners

"For they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things."  Mark 6:34

This past Sunday at mass we heard the above passage in the Gospel.  I reflected on this passage in light of last week.

Last week, I was in St. Benedict, LA, working the Gulf States Distance Running Camp for high school cross country runners.  This was the 20th year of camp, and it was my 8th year working the camp as a camp coach. Each year is just as exciting as my first year.  At camp, we provide young runners with a close-knit community of athletes, coaches, and mentors.  This environment enables us to "teach them many things" about distance running.  We do so, first of all, by running with the athletes twice a day.  This takes a determination and a toughness that many campers didn't realize they had before coming to camp.  Secondly, we give informational and motivational talks to the athletes to help sharpen their minds about what it takes to be successful in training and racing.  Thirdly, and most importantly, we try to help the athletes understand how what they experience from their running directly relates to what they experience in life.  I firmly believe that those of us who go back to camp each year do so because we are attempting to answer the call to be "shepherds" to the the flock of young runners who come to us searching for strength and guidance.

Do you answer the call to be a good shepherd to others in your life?


Do you seek strength and guidance from others?

The Spirit moves us to be shepherds for others just as much as it moves us to seek out our own shepherds.

May we be ever-faithful, ever-mindful, and ever-joyful.