What's in a pair of running shoes? A deeply inspiring story.
It might seem just another pair of running shoes (cross trainers), yet to the Sudan4Jesus run (S4J) team this represents a beautifully inspiring story. It is a pair that S4J buddy, Cecile, donated to the team to bless one of the S4J athletes / buddies team with. "Don't SELL it, give it to one of your S4J team."
At the S4J, our first line of communication is our facilitation team. These people put in a lot of effort without ever being paid to do so. So I sent a message to this group to say that the shoes is up for grabs, please contact me if anyone of you or your group of athletes would be interested.
Within one hour three people contacted me to say they're interested. I thought, it's a first come first served situation. The first person who responded from the S4J facilitation team was Annalie du Preez, wife of deceased S4J athlete Louis du Preez. The shoes were a perfect match for her.
But, that's not where the story ends.
Although Annalie KNEW this pair was a freebie; not for sale; she made a donation to the S4J fund. The truth of the matter is that although Louis du Preez has already passed on to greater eternal glory, through his legacy, he is still in the race. Louis is as much a contender for the top fundraising spot than any of the other S4J athletes. In 2014 he was the top fundraiser; last year he finished in second spot.
Would you believe it, that for the S4J-2016 year that runs from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2016, Louis du Preez, right now, is IN THE SECOND SPOT on the fundraising list! What a man! What a legend! What a legacy! How BOLDLY he lived for Jesus and for his family.
One lesson from this: not even death is an excuse NOT to make an impact for Christ Jesus in this world. The greatness of your legacy would depend a lot on how BOLDLY you stood and lived for Jesus on earth. In the case of the S4J, even how you ran for Jesus.
When Annalie collected the shoes, I just experienced this incredibly intense moment when I realized the last pair of running shoes we kept for someone at the S4J office was those of Louis du Preez. That was the pair that he wore during his last race.
Annalie, thank you that you've taken up the baton from Louis. Although you won't run the Comrades Marathon, you believe in the cause Louis stood for, living his life for Christ Jesus. Thank you that even now, you're a buddy for Louis in this race as part of the S4J team. That, in my books, is deeply deeply inspiring.
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| The card attached to the bag in which Louis last pair of running shoes were at the S4J office. |
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| Louis du Preez ran his last race on earth, Comrades 2014, with this pair of running shoes. Yet, through his life we learn that your legacy will continue for generations, LONG after you've passed onto greater eternal glory. Through your legacy, Louis, you're very much still part of the race. |