“The Way We Gather” is a Woven blog series for sharing our experiences, stories, thoughts, and feelings about gathering. We hope to bring inspiration and permission to the way we gather in our own lives around the world.
For the last year and a half, I have gathered with a group of young women every Tuesday night to go for a run. One friend, Rachel, invited me and a few women to run together and then through Covid it provided a way of continuing fellowship while most of the world was facing lockdown and isolation. It started with a consistent four women and has grown to about ten. Not everyone can make it every week, but there is always someone who wants to run! My personal experience in the group has been that it is very grounding. It’s a place that I can join with women who love running as much as I do, who love being outside as much as I do, and who are willing to be open with me as I’m open with them. We chat as we run and talk about how our weekend was, what’s going on in life, etc. There are a mix of beliefs in the group and it’s a great place to be real about how God is working in my life with those who share my beliefs and with those who think differently. We encourage each other. We push each other physically by challenging our endurance. We respect each other and stick with each other. No one runs alone, even if they’re struggling to keep up that day. There are definitely days when I don’t want to run, but by the end of the run, I am always glad I went. I’m glad I showed up and put myself in a situation to know and be known. It has been a gift and I am thankful for the consistent opportunity week after week.
