What's in a run?

A few weekends back JMo, her sister and I decided to do a 5k! In fact, a 5k raising money for those who work to help those suffering from HIV/AIDS. I spoke about it earlier here. Well, there we were early Saturday morning in the cool crisp Seattle air that invoked the desire to run right back to the car and blast the heat. The clouds loomed and threatened rain, but stayed at bay and really, it was a lovely feeling to run and take in autumn in the Northwest.

I've reflected on just what the draw is to be active in order to raise money. Relay for Life - you raise money pledging to 'walk all night' with your team, benefit walks and runs, stair climbs for cystic fibrosis... and I realized that it is a place of empowerment. I don't know the cure for AIDS or cancer, I don't know how to research for that cure, I don't know how to medically help those suffering be healed. But I can run (or, well lightly jog/walk). I can try and raise funds to enable those who do know how to research come that much closer to a cure. People can run. But I am also challenged with that idea: was it just a fun morning for me? Is that all this really was?

We are empowered to pray.
We are empowered to raise/donate money.
We are empowered to come together as a community and take a stand.
We are empowered to raise awareness.

Running for those who are fighting to be able to get up and run again. I think we feel that we cannot do much to make a difference, 'measly ol' me, right?. But we can run, we can come together as a community of support, we can be in fellowship together and pray for that cure to come. That's an empowering concept, no?