26 minutes

Today I ran the perimeter of a small town of Nebraska in 26 minutes. I touched the final dirt road going east and passed the coffee shop and post office going west. I waved to a couple fellas driving by in their pick-up trucks. I let out a cheer “Go Storm” as I went by the high school. I saw the Pump ‘N Pantry, the one of two possible grocery options, the one assisted living home, and a handful of churches of various denominations. The houses put out an air of simple but comfortable living. The sidewalks invited neighbors to walk down the street to say hello. I even admired the soft grass of the park, thinking about how happy, playing children could be heard for blocks.

What an interesting morning of workout. I began thinking of an exercise that never seemed possible before: encompass a town in prayer. As I ran I couldn’t help but think of the people who frequented the coffee shop to catch up, the friends that packed the church for this morning’s funeral, the children of all ages attending school. What does this town hold for all of these people? What keeps the town alive, but more than that, what makes it thrive? What are the struggles that small town life presents to seasoned citizens as well as new families?

I appreciated that I had such an opportunity and ability to run those 26 minutes. How much ground could I cover of my home in that amount of time? How many outings would it take for me to encircle the entire city? Being a creature of habit, I know a few routes that could be done in that time, yet I realize I’m meant to branch out beyond those areas. So I aome to my final conclusions from this morning’s workout.
• Prayer for a town is important.
• It can be done portion by portion, area by area.
• So many people and situations live together in a town so focusing on few different details is significant start.
• It’s easy to pray for that which is familiar, but so much still needs a blessing of peace, hope, prosperity, and reconciliation.
• Even a short jog can give one an opportunity to encompass the whole town in prayers and good thoughts, even if that just means running a few miles around the neighborhood.