Josiah Road

Running Club Inc.

posted by Daniel Blackaby 10Jul

I’m not exactly renowned for being someone who makes “health-conscious” choices. This character flaw traces back to my childhood. As babies, my brother and sister crawled—I rolled. Perhaps this was due to my cheeks, which served as constant anchors, dragging two or three feet along the floor behind me. This globular physique carried into teenage-years due to a growing addiction. When I was cut, I bled McDonald’s grease. After surpassing yet another ‘milestone’ in weight, I knew it was time for change. It was time for Running Club Inc.

As club president and founder, I vowed the evil forces of calories would no longer run rampant throughout my body unchecked. My club’s motto was simple: Calories don’t take days of—and neither should we.

I designed the official Web site and commenced recruiting. I quickly drafted my sister Carrie and offered her the lucrative position of vice-president and special events coordinator. With my executive team in place, we invited the masses to apply for available spots on the club.

With our ambitious publicity campaign leaping into action, we intended for Running Club Inc. to be as popular a conversation topic as Britney Spear’s wardrobe (as I said, ambitious). Upon the closure of our marketing blitz, we conducted a roll call. Including Carrie and I, our prestigious Club’s membership now boasted a total of…well two.

Realizing that perhaps people were hesitant to join a club whose posterboy looked like Jabba the Hutt, I made an executive decision. The show must go on!

We made the trek to a running store, where they fit us with scientifically-designed, state-of-the-art running shoes that could make Donavan Bailey (Canadian Olympic Champion) envious, high quality running socks featuring advanced breathing technology, along with custom-fit headbands, and indestructible water bottles. With such cutting edge equipment, I began to seriously consider making a bid for the summer Olympic team.

To celebrate our progress we planned the club’s kick-off party. We’d open with ice-breaker activities, transitioning into a meet-and-greet, and end by planning an itinerary, while enjoying some low-carb snacks.

A few weeks later during dinner, my dad inquired about our club’s progress. Being the respected and esteemed president of the club, I stood and gave a detailed report, putting emphasis on the great success of our kick-off party, perfect attendance! Obviously impressed, he posed a troubling question, “That’s great. How’s the running coming along?”

“Dad, do you have any idea how much work goes into administering a club like this!? With all this paperwork, press conferences and executive duties to perform, how can you expect me to find time in to run? Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a long range planning meeting in five…”

Do Christians ever treat their relationship with God like Running Club Inc.? With so many fellowships to attend, Bible studies to organize, choir and praise band practices to attend, we can end up pretty busy with church. But merely spending time in a church building or engaging in church activities is not a substitute for a relationship with God.

Isn’t it ironic, that sometimes I’m so busy with Christian activities that I can’t find time for Christ? Has your Christianity become merely a string of activities? Are you merely a member of the Christian club, or are you a follower of Christ?