Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2009

Sept 6, Sunday morning 7 am. The tranquility at Changi Village was displaced by the noise of 6,000 participants all geared up for the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Prison Run.

The theme of the run is Going Beyond the Run. It is about giving ex-offenders a second chance to start afresh and conveying the message that what matters most is not about the fall, but how one gets up that counts. Given that PMC is an ardent supporter of the Prisons Ministry, it is only appropriate that a representation of PMCers participate. Among the 10km competitive run and 5.8km fun run were Poh Kiang, Joan, Edmund and wife, Rufina and I. :)

To say the least, the weather was just ideal for personal bests. Cool, overcast skies, with a drizzle or two, and breezy. The organization was efficient, the route was scenic and interesting, and the highlight - running into Changi Prison itself. A rare sight indeed, to see so many people running into the prison, kind of the antithesis of Prison Break.

For a fuller race report, read on.

Another highlight was the Hanniel's Challenge. Hanniel is an ex-offender who took on the challenge of running 10k below 48 minutes, 48 being his age. I am pretty sure that many younger runners could not match that time. But Hanniel did, a personal best for him. Read more about Hanniel Choong.

What really struck me is not the running achievement, but his ongoing achievement to stay "drug-free". As Hanniel puts it, "[The drug free journey] is a lifelong thing. You don't presume that you are doing okay."

The lesson I take away is that our Christian journey is also a lifelong sojourn. We cannot assume that we are doing okay.

Just as running requires us to be focussed on our objectives and goals, and be highly disciplined in our training, we need to be constantly focussed on Christ and to exercise discipline in our life.

Are we focussed and disciplined? Or are we too diffused in our life's direction and easily swayed by circumstances? Do we have the discipline to stay on course, just as Hanniel has the discipline to stay drug-free?

Hanniel's challenge resonates very deeply with me, and I hope with you as well.

SE