by Craig Mayes on June 11th, 2011

This morning I volunteered at a 10k race sponsored by the New York Runners in Central Park. When I moved to NYC in 2008 I joined the Road Runners as a way to pursue my new hobby of running, since I had to leave sailing, kayaking, tennis and pretty much every other pastime I enjoyed back in Michigan. At first I did not like running, but subsequently have come to enjoy it and to see my need for this outlet of physical energy. The Road Runners sponsor many races throughout the year, including the annual marathon which attracts over 40,000 runners every November. And that’s why I was volunteering this morning. I decided that at my age it is now or never to make a marathon attempt, but it is difficult to get into the NYC Marathon. I won’t qualify based on my pace in other races, and the odds of getting in through the lottery system are not good- I’ve tried. But there is one way. As a member of the Rad Runners, if I compete in 9 races and volunteer to work 1 race in a single calendar year, then I am entered into the marathon the following year. I have competed in 4 races so far in 2011, and today was my volunteer assignment. Five more races to go, and I’ll be in the 2012 NYC Marathon. I’ll be in it- finishing it? We’ll see.

When my alarm went off at 5:30 AM this morning, the last thing I wanted to do was to make the trek up to Central Park. I had been at a Communitas gathering in Brooklyn Friday night- gotten home late, slept little, and the forecast was for rain.  I hit the snooze button- felt guilty as I considered being a no-show, and dragged myself out of bed.

When I arrived at the volunteer tent, I was assigned to work at the finish line of the race where runners could grab water, fruit and a bagel. There were probably 75 volunteers assigned to this area because the race would probably have over 5000 runners. That’s a lot of bagels. We began our work at 6:30- setting up tables, pouring thousands of cups of water and gator aide and staging bagels and pears. We were lead by Eddie and his sister Maria. They are both retired NYC educators and have been volunteering for the Road Runners for many years- 25 years for Eddie.

As I helped with the set up, I found myself wondering why Eddie and Maria would get up early on so many weekend mornings and volunteer. They both acknowledged that they are not even runners. So why? I think I got my answer at 7:20 AM.

The race was to begin at 8 AM. By 7:20 all our work was done, and Eddie called for all the volunteers to assemble. We met in the middle of the road in Central Park, which is closed to traffic on the weekends. He made us form a large circle, side by side, so everyone could see everyone else. Then the fun began. I could tell he and Maria have been doing this for a long time, and it is probably why they do it. Over the next 30 minutes, they turned 75 strangers into a form of community.

“Speak loud enough for everyone to hear you- tell us your name and what you do, and everyone listen- no talking” barked out Eddie. He and Maria stood in the middle of the large circle and for the next 30 minutes, connected (and entertained) us.  The group was made up of lawyers, bankers, teachers, social workers, doctors, electricians, journalists, etc. As each person introduced himself and herself and told us what they did for their career, Eddie and Maria would move people around the circle and group them together- lawyers over here, bankers over there. And somewhere along the way, they began to ask about marital status, and which of the singles was looking for a husband or wife… and they began to make a half-hearted and funny attempt at match-making. There was an unexpected and amazing group dynamic happening. We had just come to do a job, and now we were having fun and getting to know each other.

I was probably somewhere around #50 in the introductions, and was trying to decide how to identify my occupation.  Sometimes I like to stay away from the “pastor” identity when I first meet people because of the stereotype and negativity it can bring, especially in this city. But when my time came, I knew I should just say “pastor”- and I was pretty certain there would be no one to “group” me with (unless it was the lawyers- to try to convert them- just kidding!!).  I was very curious to see how Eddie and Maria would respond. When I said “pastor”, Eddie lit up and repeated loudly, “we have a pastor here”. Then he said- “Just wait, I have something for you in a minute”, and he continued around the circle.

When the last introduction was done, he came over to me, and grabbed my arm and pulled me to the center of the circle. He said that he wanted “our pastor” to pray for the morning and the race, and in light of the impending and predicted rain and thunderstorm that was supposed to come at any moment, would I pray about the rain?

In the book of James we read these words:

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:17)

Pressure’s on! I thought, ok, I don’t need 3 ½ years, but 2 ½ hours would be good. So with dark clouds above and 74 people looking at me, I asked God to bless our morning, to keep the runners safe, to help us serve with joy, and to stay dry. Amen!

As we went to our assignments, it was clear that our 30 minute exercise had changed everything. Strangers were now talking freely, Information was being shared. Business cards exchanged. Laughter and conversation. Instead of just checking off the “I volunteered” box so we could run a marathon in 2012, we seemed to actually enjoy what we were doing. At least I did. I came away with new names and phone numbers and more than one conversation that someone wanted to have with “the pastor”.

In some respects, Eddie and Maria were the true pastors. They took a group of people, many of them who, like me, really didn’t want to be there, and “shepherded us”. The work took on a different feel once they had helped us to connect with each other.

As I turned in my vest and lanyard at the volunteer tent at 10:30, I bumped into Maria. “Pastor- it didn’t rain!”  Whew! And it didn’t for another hour. I asked for 2 ½, and I got 3 ½.