A Few Words Along the Trail

Last weekend, I dropped my daughter off for a Dancer for a Day event so she could have some fun with her cousin. That left me with several hours of free time. I came prepared, already dressed in my running gear, and was off to explore one of the nearby trails.

As I ran down the trail, I noticed blue signs posted every mile. Each one had a message:

Be kind.

Be honest.

Be joyful.

Be gentle with others.

My first thought was that these sounded a lot like the Beatitudes. The trail was near Saint John's University, so a message with a connection to Jesus made sense. I started thinking about Matthew 5, where Jesus talks about the people who are blessed: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted because of righteousness. The signs weren't an exact match, but I could see some similarities. Both were about character and how we treat others.

One of the signs was Be Joyful, which happened to be my halfway point. I was pretty joyful as I turned around with the wind at my back! When I finished, I stopped to take a picture of the last sign, which included the hashtag #JacobsHopeLives. I didn't know what that meant.

Later, I mentioned the signs to my sister, and she filled me in. They were part of a tribute to Jacob Wetterling. The eleven signs represent characteristics of Jacob.

Jacob was abducted in St. Joseph, Minnesota, on October 22, 1989. His disappearance shocked Minnesota and surrounding communities. His story is one that many in my own community remember.

The eleven signs read:

Be fair.

Be kind.

Be understanding.

Be honest.

Be thankful.

Be a good sport.

Be a good friend.

Be joyful.

Be generous.

Be gentle with others.

Be positive.

Those blue signs now had a whole new meaning! I had been running in the very town where Jacob was abducted, almost to the day 37 years later. There was another connection I hadn't thought about: Jacob and I are the same age. I went out for a run, noticed a few signs, and thought they were connected to the Beatitudes. I had no idea of the story behind them.

I still think there is a connection between the two lists. Jesus' words in the Beatitudes are about the kind of heart we should have. Jacob's characteristics put simple words to the way we can live that out. Be kind. Be understanding. Be a good friend. Be gentle with others.

I went out for a run that day with a few hours to fill. I came home with a story that hit a little closer to home than I expected. I'll think a little differently the next time I see one of those blue signs along the trail.

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About Make Monday Matter

Make Monday Matter is my weekly Christian devotional where I share reflections on faith, running, and the small ways God shows up in everyday life.