Refill with Randy – Walking (Or Running) to Learn and Grow
Good morning! Grab your favorite cup. Fill it up. And let’s start this week right… TOGETHER!!!
By Randy LeBaron
Over the past couple of weeks, I have helped with Care-Net of Orleans’ “Walk 4 Life” at Bullard Park and Hospice of Orleans’ “Memory Walk” at Holley Falls. I chose these two primarily for my involvement with each organization, I am a volunteer peer counselor at Care-Net and the Spiritual Care Counselor at Hospice, and because I believe in promoting the sanctity of human life from the very beginning to the very end. 
There are many other worthy organizations who also raise funds and awareness through events like: Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run (to assist Orleans County Cancer Patients and Their Families), Friends and Family 5K to support Arc GLOW, and the Run for Wayne (Colon Cancer Awareness), among others. And what all these events have in common is that they bring together a diverse group of people affected by the same cause who are trying to move forward together literally, by walking or running, as well as figuratively in learning to adjust to a new normal due to past or current circumstances.
In my message at the beginning of the Hospice of Orleans “Memory Walk” last Sunday I referenced two passages of Scripture. The first was 2 Corinthians 1 where Paul talks about how God will give us comfort when we go through difficult situations so that when others go through similar trials we can then comfort them. The second passage was from Joshua 4 where God commanded a representative from each of the 12 Tribes of Israel to stand in the Jordan River, witness the water recede, and then after everyone else had crossed over on dry land they were to each pick up a stone from the riverbed and stack them on the other side. This was meant to be a sign for future generations to remind them that God had protected and provided for them by parting the waters.
In a similar fashion I shared that even though everyone was going down the same path, in this case dealing with grief and loss, some were further along than others and should consider leaving some stone markers along the way to encourage those coming after them. Participants then had opportunity to paint or write something on river rocks at the end of the walk which they could either choose to keep as a reminder for themselves or plan to put somewhere for someone, who just may need some encouragement in the moment, to find. 
In a more conventional sense I have seen time and time again while leading the Community Grief Support Group where someone who has been coming longer is able to offer comfort and hope to a newer member simply because they have walked a similar path and can testify that as stuck as the new person may feel in their current state that there are brighter days ahead.
Friends, I love to see us come together as a community to raise funds and awareness for so many worthy causes but let’s not stop there. Attending an annual event to show our support is great and often needed but we shouldn’t overlook the impact we can have on another person’s journey simply by offering some kind words of encouragement along the way. If nothing else, offer them a cup of coffee and a listening ear. 
