The Art of Hospitality
I remember one of the first times I travelled on city transit.  I was traveling to meet up with a friend in his new apartment. I was going to a place I had not been before, on a mode of transportation I had not used much before, with several people whom I had not met before.  I had an address in my hand and a bus driver to guide me.  It was a warm fall evening so naturally being dark and in an unfamiliar place, my sense of security was being challenged.  I was dropped off at the bus route where I thought my stop should be.   
As I surveyed the landscape I knew that I was not "in Kansas anymore." I checked my address, I checked the surroundings and quickly felt confused and unsure of where I was.  
"Drat, I should have brought a map." I said to myself. Now what do I do?"  At a time when personal cell phones were not as prevalent as they are today I thought I could spot a pay phone.  I walked up the street and down the street yet found nothing.  Finally I spotted a church off the road with people streaming out.  "They must have a phone," I thought to myself as I cautiously yet confidently strode towards the church.  I was confident because I was certain there was a phone, I was cautious because I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I quickly found a man who looked very kind and gentle. I asked him if the church had a phone. He quickly directed me to the phone.  I was ready to get out my friends phone number when my heart sank realizing I had not brought it with me.  
Sensing I was losing my composure the kind gentleman wondered if he could give me a ride somewhere.  Regaining my hope in the situation I politely obliged.  
As we drove I emphatically thanked Art, whom I found out his name later.  "Art, I can't thank you enough for your hospitality.  I am far from home, with no phone number, and an address I've never been to before, and shoot it looks like I'm late as well."
Art was very cordial as he drove, telling me what area I was in and what sort of surroundings were there.  And then he stopped, and with a serious yet humble tone told me, "Well you know what Colin, I was actually speaking to my congregation about being a good Samaritan at church tonight.  I would be a hypocrite if I did not practice what I was preaching."  
Those words reverberated within me as we drove by a strip mall a few blocks down to phone my friend to tell him that I would be late.  I dug around in my pockets.  No change.  "No problem," Art stated, "I have 35 cents right here." 
I later found out from my friends roommate that in fact there was a mix up of dates and that my friend had gone to another place to hang out.  
Now what am I going to do! I thought.  How am I going to catch a bus at this time of night when I don't even know if the buses are running. 
Just then I heard Art behind me, "how about I give you a ride home Colin." It's no trouble at all.
Art's example to me reminded me the true meaning of the "Art of Hospitality."  By going out of your way to offer a stranger time, resources and moral support, you remind that person that they are important with no strings attached and no obligation to pay you back.
Thanks to all of those who have gone out of their way these past two weeks.  Many have showed us the "Art of Hospitality" by making our transition from the familiar of Stettler to unfamiliar of Saskatoon not just a move but a journey of discovering what the root of the  "Art of Hospitality is... Love.   
       

 I was running up to the 12km mark when I realized I had lots of energy left in me.  "Funny," I thought to myself, "last time I ran I ran out of gas at 13km as I was trying to keep up to the 'fast runners' in the immediate running group I was in."  Looking around the crowd had thinned out to where individuals could run in single file and I could look ahead of me to see the twists and turns that lie ahead.  As I paid attention to my body and what my spirit was telling me, it was at this moment where I gave myself permission to give it all I had for the finish line.  I tore into my energy gel like a wild animal, sloshed water all over my "Run for Ratank" shirt trying to refuel my depleted body of the water it was so desperately longing for.     
Questions naturally filled my mind: "what if I run out of gas like I did last time?  What if I do not make my goal time of 2:00 h - 2:05h?  Yet I heard that piercing voice again, the one I heard when I decided to run for Ratanak International, "just keep going."  
A poem that I had heard earlier that week was brought to my attention as I felt my heartrate increase as my pace picked up.  Although it had nothing to do with running and more to do with bike racing, it was relevant to the race that was yet set before me:

                                                                    Just Pedal 
    At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven, or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.   But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike. and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.
    I don't know just when it was that He suggested we changed places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control. I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable...It was the shortest distance between two points.  But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"
    I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.  I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jumps to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. 
     I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He smiles and says...
                                                                      " Just Pedal."
I crossed the finish line at 2:03:44, 6 minutes shorter than my previous year's time.  As I did, I realized that it was not just me running that day... someone was running alongside of me cheering me on.  The prayers, the encouragements from friends, family and complete strangers helped me to "keep going" as I knew that this journey was short compared to the horror that many children face in Cambodia. 
This year I ran for Ratanak.  Someone I never met yet who has left a legacy of speaking up for the voiceless that will not easily be silenced.

Image from: (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ChNszMDiGhE/S78EOq7U-aI/AAAAAAAAFEk/-3W-zvOX1F0/s1600/tandem-bike.jpg)

Life is a treasure worth valuing.   I went out for a 5 mile run yesterday in the 40km wind and was mentally transplanted to the realization that this effort is being directed by a force beyond my control. Yesterday I was speaking at church on how God pursues and treasures his people even when they do't appear desirable or lovely.  Hosea was called by God to marry a prostitute for many reasons including as a means to show the rest of Israel that He, as the Divine Husband, desperately longs for his children's intimacy.  Through this endeavor I feel I am learning more about how to fight for the treasure that is each and every person. I find myself recognizing and reafirming that each person is a gift that is seen as precious more than my understanding or comprehension.  As the journey continues, I run for Ratanak, but I also run so that precious jewels that have been stifled and made "dirty" through the plague of human trafficking can be seen as the jewels that they are; just as they are.
I want to send out a note of gratitue to my mother in law Barb for being so persistent in her efforts to bless Ratanak International.  Her generous spirit and willingness to bless her family is a treasure I have had the privilage to be inspired by. 
A thank you to Doug at ID Apparel in Stettler for helping my T-Shirt design take flight.  I am looking forward to wearing a "Run For Ratanak" shirt this Sunday.
I also want to thank Brian, Alexis, Faith, and Melissa and the rest of the staff of Ratanak International for putting up a designation on their website for those who wish to donate in response to my efforts to "Run For Ratanak" in the Red Deer Woody's Half Marathon this Sunday.     
For those who wish to donate: Go to the donate tab on the www.ratanak.org website: click on Ratanak Canada: and in the "Giving in Response to Column" go to Woody's Half Marathon.  https://ratanak.org/secure/donate.cfm We can do this! Let's raise $1000 and beyond together.

Woody's Marathon is a week and a half away and already I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the support I have received to raise $1000 and beyond for Ratanak International. Family members have stated they want to get on board with the cause by donating resources to this run.   I am eternally grateful for my wife who has encouraged me not to give up and to keep giving time and effort to this important mission of awareness to Human Trafficking.  Recently I was given the privelage to run with a group of individuals who are working on running the Woody's Half Marathon in May.  Thanks to CJ and the running group at Performance Physiotherapy in Stettler for giving me the opportunity to share my heart about rehabilitiating lives from the interuption of Human Trafficking.   Some of the runners said they would be willing to wear a "Run For Ratanak" shirt as they run the Woody's 1/2 Marathon as well. 
I appreciate Paul Brandt who took time to tweet about this initiative on his Twitter account yesterday http://twitter.com/#!/paulbrandt/statuses/68359260777615360.  This was a huge surprise and gift.  Thanks also to Karen the editor of iRun Magazine for posting my story on http://www.irun.ca/blog/index.php/irun-for-ratanak/.
  Thank you.. The journey has only begun. Let's continue to journey together as we try to reach the goal of $1000 and beyond for Ratanak International.      

Run for Ratanak
My name is Colin Bruins and I am running for a reason.
I am 27 years old living in Stettler AB. Canada.
I grew up in small town Alberta and have been sheltered from a lot of the major trauma's and social disasters that I heard about on the news. A few months ago I was at my computer casually checking my facebook account when I came accross a link my friend Treven told me to check out.   had a yearning to support a cause that was beyond what I could fathom or grasp.     The video presentation was on on the value of human life and how that value is diminished when people are sold and bought like other commodoties.
I was shocked as I heard children as young as 6 years old were being used for sexual favors by their owners a half a world away in Cambodia.  I was even more shocked to learn that several desperate parents would sell their own children for as little as $30 just to make ends meet.  Having four children of my own, the thought of them being sold as an animal sickened me.  This was the first time I was confronted with the reality of Human Trafficking and its global epidemic around the world. 
After that presentation which was given by Country Singing Star Paul Brandt, I felt like I had to do something more than merely sit back and agree that what was going on was aweful. During Paul's presentation, he mentioned an individual who was inspired to cycle a long distance to raise money to bring Awareness to Human Trafficking.  That is how I became aware of Ratatank International.
At first I casually looked at www.ratanak.org to see what information that I could glean more about the Human Trafficking issue.  It was there that I was able to first be acquainted with its founder McConaghy. I was inspired even further to do something to raise money for this organization when I heard, how Brian, a former police officer, wanted to get a couple of suit cases of medical supplies into the country.  After several people heard about his cause, two suitcases turned into nine tones of medical supplies.  Brian deliberately went into harms way to make sure that the people of Cambodia, had basic medical supplies.   Brian and the medical supplies were detained in Cambodial.  After being interviewd on state television he was later seen as an ally to the Cambodian people and was later released along with the medical supplies.  This was how Ratanak started.  Ratanak (meaning precious gem) was a girl who died of Dengue Fever when there was still a UN embargo over Cambodia and no medication or aid was allowed in.  It is for this type of courage, and for speaking up for voices that are muffled under adult manipulation and greed that I have gained a heart of compassion for the people of Cambodia. 
I later got in contact with Brian to tell him about my fundraising idea to do a race of some sort to raise funds for Ratanak.  I drove five hours one day to hear him speak on the injustices in Cambodia and the hope that Ratanak was giving to several girls and woman there.  I was inspired at how projects like their "New Song" Centre was helping girls who were once trapped in an endless cycle of usery, were able to tranform their lives into something greater.  Many girls have gone from living on the streets to owning their own seamstress shops, or bakeries. 
After getting in touch with Brian, I was further encouraged to run by hearing the story of a man named Larry. Larry had never really ran in his life until he was inspired by the stories of Ratanak International to raise money for specific projects that Ratanak is involved in.  Larry has gone all the way to the Boston Marathon to raise awareness of Human Trafficking and the work that Ratanak International does to address the issue.  I have contacted a local T-Shirt designer to get a couple t-shirts made, have had someone dontate an item from their home business for raffle, and am getting the word out about Ratanak through word of mouth and social media. I have also been inspired to create a blog that I will use to highlight my journey for fundraising with Ratanak. www.rhythmsofasojourner.weebly.com.
Having trained and run for a 1/2 Marathon last year, I am looking forward to when I run May 22nd in Red Deer Alberta at the Woody's Marathon for Ratank International.
Contact E-mail for me: [email protected]
(Image from: http://forum.belmont.edu/bfitbu/2010/09/interested_in_running.html)