GP’s advocating “parkrun” was a headline on Radio New Zealand news last Tuesday (12th).
According to its national website, “parkrun” is described as:
- Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
- Parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning.
- Parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive; there is no time limit, and no one finishes last.
- Everyone is welcome to come along.’
The same news programme reminded us of a historic moment in New Zealand sport.
On 12 August 1975 John Walker broke the world record for the mile and ran under three minutes and 50 seconds.
Walker’s time of 3:49.4 was exactly 10 seconds faster than Roger Bannister did 21 years earlier when he became the first person to break the four-minute barrier for the mile.
The author of today’s second reading (Hebrews 12:1 – 4) may well have been a jogger.
The author writes, “persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus”.
The description of “parkrun” sounds like a pretty good description of Church – or how Church ought to be!
- It is free.
- It is community.
- It is positive.
- It is welcoming.
- It is inclusive.
- There is no time limit.
- No one finishes last.
- Everyone is welcome to come along.
And, at the end of it all, we too may sit down and as John Walker said, “have a couple of beers.”