A Crazy, Unexpected Opportunity Out of the Blue

Facebook told me I had a message from someone I wasn't connected to. I am always leery about these type of messages and with all the Nigerian Princess scams going around a message from someone I didn't know in Kenya seemed a little suspect.  Little did I realize I was about to enter the biggest adventure of my running life.

Job is a subsistence farmer from the Rift Valley in the highlands of Kenya.  East African farming isn't a very good way to make a living but Job has one special gift.  Job can run like the wind.  He has personal records of 1:06 and 2:23 from local half and full marathons respectively and he says he is in shape to better those times significantly this fall.

So last Friday, July 26, 2019, when I connected with Job, he told me he was looking for a manager and he wants me to do it.  His dream, though he didn't put it in those terms, is to run races in America and Europe.  Now let me be clear. I know as much about managing the career of an elite runner as I know about programming a computer or fixing a Ferrari.  That is to say, little to nothing.  I told him, "Job I am a pastor, not a manager. How could I possibly help you?"  

He just said, "You can help me to find races and get sponsors. If I win, I pay you."  Job went on to tell me that he came in 7th in the Jakarta Marathon last year.  He wants to sign a contract with me. And despite my best efforts to explain to him I am completely unqualified, I have to money to help him and I have no contacts with race organizers he simply responded, "I am a Christian man. I want to sign a contract with you."

Admittedly, it would be a whale of an adventure to help an elite runner start an international career, but I have no means, no contacts, and no experience.  I told him at the end of our conversation, "Job, let me think about this.  You and I will pray about it this weekend, I will talk with a few people I know and I will call you on Monday with my decision."

I left the conversation truly not knowing what to do.  Frankly, I was flabbergasted and all I could say was, "What just happened?"  And the question just began to loom in my head, "What are you going to do?"  Logically it was one of the craziest things to ever happen to me.  It made no sense and I am far from the right person for the job.  But then all those motivational posts I have hung up on my facebook wall about seizing opportunities in life and taking risks began to haunt me.  And if I didn't at least try I would be a total hypocrite.  I went into the weekend with a lot to think about.