The city of Sombor, Serbia is amazing. Beautiful architecture, great food, friendly people. I’ve never seen someone so excited that a foreigner learned how to say hello in her native language, (“Dobra don” good day in Serbian). It has been an awesome start to the World Race.
After our somewhat stressful days of travel to get here, we got to dive into our ministry on our first night. For the rest of August, we will be hanging out and building friendships with some local students from high school and college. Our activities will range from playing sports and games, to talking in cafés and exploring the city. Last night and every night, this looked like card games and conversations in the Church/Café where we are living this month. It was really fun to meet new friends and spend time getting to know each other.
One of the people I met was Nic. We talked about a lot and I learned a lot. I knew we were going to be fast friends when he claimed that he was 11 years old instead of 22 because he ages half as fast as normal people. (I tell people that I am perpetually 5 years old because you are only as old as you choose to feel, and you are all the ages you’ve ever been. I like 5 because childlike wonder is at its peak.) Naturally for me, the conversation consisted mostly of music and sports, but I never expected where it would end up when I asked him what his favorite sport was. Nic told me that he absolutely loved free running (Parkour) ever since he saw a youtube video many years ago. I had a similar experience, but I have spent nowhere near the amount of time actually free running that Nic has. It was so cool to see him express his passion.
Then Nic told me that he unfortunately hasn’t been able to do any free running for over a year because of a herniated disk in his lower back. He has been dealing with it for about six years, but the pain finally reached a point that he couldn’t even walk for a few days, let alone do free running. He expressed his frustration that doctors wouldn’t do much to help him outside of a surgery, which was not the route Nic wanted to take. He talked about the numerous rehab diets and exercises he has followed on the internet in order to decompress his spine and get back to normal. Where most people would have accepted their fate and given up, Nic has refused. He told me of his stubbornness and refusal to give up (traits I share, another reason I knew would be friends).
Then, I asked Nic if anyone has ever prayed for his back to heal. He told me that people sort of have before, but most Christians have told him that maybe his situation is God’s will and that he should seek peace from God even if his back never heals. I told Nic I don’t totally agree with that. I said it is definitely important to seek peace in Christ with whatever situation he is in, but I also told Nic that I believe God created him with an innate love and passion for free running, and he shouldn’t ever give up on it. I told him that God put free running in his life for a reason, and while this injury may be a challenge and test for him to overcome, he shouldn’t take no as an answer for something that he feels purpose in, something that can glorify God.
He was so excited to hear me answer like that. He told me that he likes to believe in his heart and mind that he is healing. Mindset is half the battle isn’t it? Nic doesn’t have it in his DNA to quit, and it’s awesome. He even said that he feels like it would be lazy of him to just pray for God to heal his back without putting in any effort of his own. What a work ethic! He also talked about how much he has grown through this challenge, and how much wiser and more positive it has made him. Nic said that he will never lose his positive mindset, and that he will believe he is healing even if he isn’t able to free run again until he is 60. Even if he is never able to free run again, he refuses to accept that and give up.
I have a special place in my heart for the ones with that kind of wild spirit.
I asked Nic if it would be okay for me to pray over his back for the next three weeks that I’m in Sombor. He said that would be great. I put my hand on Nic’s lumbar, and asked God for healing. I told God we know He has the power to heal it, that He created Nic with an incredible passion for free running, that it is a beautiful thing for Nic and his body to be doing. That this may be happening for a reason, but we don’t believe it is the end of Nic’s story. I asked God that if it is His will, that Nic will be healed and return to free running. That even if it is not through miraculous healing, that God would give Nic the guidance and energy to stay committed to healing himself. I prayed that God would begin decompressing Nic’s spine and renew his mind with positivity each day. I prayed in the name of Jesus that Nic’s back would heal.
Whether by the hand of God, or Nic’s incredible work ethic and strength provided him by the Lord, I know that Nic’s back is going to heal. I believe that it is God’s will to be a free runner, and have freedom in Christ. I believe in the power of prayer because I’ve seen it. The healing power of Christ’s love is real and it is abundant.
Please pray for Nic.
God is going to help heal his back one way or the other, and I can’t wait to see it happen and do a little free running with him. And when it does, Nic’s story is going to change hearts, and change lives, and bring Glory to God.
