Community Matters

Last fall, I decided to try something new. I had never run a half marathon.

I registered for the Garry Bjorklund half marathon as part of Grandma’s marathon weekend in Duluth with my wife and a few other friends.

Throughout the winter, we cheered each other on in our training and commiserated while dealing with injuries or challenges.

Then, as marathon weekend approached, the forecast looked dreadful. Flooding from significant rainfall and another storm expected to hit Saturday morning. An email informed us that the race organizers were monitoring the situation closely and that, for now, plan on running.

There were online posts about whether the race would go on and with it, plenty of negative opinions shared about how inconvenient that would be to cancel the race. After the Twin Cities marathon was canceled last October over heat advisories, some angst was shared about another big race that might not happen.

One commenter suggested that the race be moved to Sunday instead, neglecting the significant logistics that were already in motion to shut down half the city and provide enough vendors, volunteers, and supplies to cover the needs of the 17,000 participants in all the races.

At 4 am on Saturday morning, however, the rains had held off. The races would go on.

What I witnessed was an incredible surge of human power to make this thing happen. When given the green light, all of those volunteers went into action.

From our dorms at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, our group headed for the buses that would bring us to the starting line. Buses from Farmington and Hastings and all over the state stretched for blocks as they waited to transport everyone. The line to get on the buses also stretched for blocks!

When we finally reached the starting line, helpful volunteers provided instructions on how to get moving and reminding us that despite missing the official start, our time wouldn’t begin until we crossed the starting line.

Along the course, thousands of fans cheered us along. Creative signs reminded us that we paid to do this to ourselves. Another wondered, “You did all this work just for a free banana?”

After the races, the collective weekend participant attendance record was broken for Duluth.

I reflected on how incredible it was to witness Duluth hosting so many people and the powerful effect of community on this gathering. Despite the fears of cancelation, the race united everyone to accomplish the event.

When community comes together like this, signs of hope for our culture are present, sometimes, when we are participating or attending something, we take for granted how many people behind the scenes are needed to make that event take place.

I’m reminded of how our local churches, schools, and service organizations are the building blocks of community.

Community happens online and on social media, too, but the value of humans coming together and lifting one another up is a valuable reminder of the good things going on in society.

I encourage you to take an active role in your community this summer. Help lead a neighborhood party or volunteer at your local church. Show up when you see a request for volunteers at the Hugo Family Shelter or the 4^th of July parade in Forest Lake.

Community matters and we can do so much good when people come together for a common purpose.

Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Forest Lake. For more information, email him at