Run Your Race With Grace
Written by: Ben and Connie Cox with Dr. Greg Adams
From the Archives: The Journey Winter 2016
Introduction by Connie Cox
I was recently driving from Grandfather Mountain to Blowing Rock on the Parkway, reflecting upon the interview that my husband and I just had with Dr. Greg Adams for this edition of The Journey. When we talked with Greg, we discovered that he had become passionate about running in marathons. Driving along the Parkway I realized that, as a marathon runner, Greg would run the equivalent of these 9 miles in a single marathon several times.
Winding through the curves, I began to think of the importance for a runner to keep his eyes on the goal he was trying to reach, otherwise how easy it would be to stop short, to say it is too long, too hard. What occurred to me about Dr. Adams life philosophy, as it relates to running, is that he’s the type not only to keep his eye on his goal, but to stop his run to help someone who’s struggling. To encourage perseverance by saying, “You can do this! Come on!” He reminded me of Barnabas, in the Bible, whose role it was to help others succeed.
How easy it is in this life journey to lose sight of our goal, grow weary, wish to stop, grow complacent, and say “it’s become too difficult--I don’t know where this road is leading me.”
Greg Adams has such an eternal perspective as he runs his life race. It inspires those around him to keep going and to not lose sight of one’s goal. That goal is to one day be in the presence of the One we love, and hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” As I rode past the Moses Cone Trails I thought of the scripture from (Hebrews 12:1) “Run with perseverance the race set before you.” I’m also reminded of the passage that says “Don’t grow weary of doing good because in due season you will reap a harvest, if you don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Then when I spotted the rocks along the trail, I recalled that if we fail to praise Him even the rocks will sing out.
When Greg runs these trails his prayers echo through the woods. Prayers for family, friends, church, community, his parents, their families, governmental systems, everything.
I have known Greg for many years as a neighbor and the doctor to my children, but I have never seen him so passionate and eternally focused on Jesus as he was during our interview. The one he chooses to give the glory to in his life on every accomplishment, every victory, all joy. The glory goes to the Lord. It was truly inspiring to spend time with him and to hear his story. For myself, it was if he gave me his hand and said, don’t give up, keep going…
Many in the High Country have brought their children to his practice, and now many of these children have their own. Greg has cared for them as well as their struggling parents, as he knows it’s not just the body that needs healing but the wholeness of the person, body, soul and spirit.
He loves what he does and this community he is a part of. Somewhere between that twinkle in his eyes and the ease of his smile we find the calm reassurance that it’s going to be fine, we can complete this journey.
We are to be ambassadors of Christ’s love, agents of his loving kindness, conduits of his character. We must engage the kingdom of God with the people we come in contact. Greg Adams models this principle, and here is his story. Enjoy!
“No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”. (I Corinthians 2:9)
I greatly appreciate the name of this magazine: The Journey, because journey is a word I have used in describing the course of one’s life. Someone once encouraged me as a teenager, when I was struggling with depression, to view life as a journey; to see each day as an opportunity to learn and discover the meaning and purpose of life. The practice of that belief lends the journey the significance that it is more than just the passing of time, for it has the purpose and goal of experiencing the gift of life. Jesus made that clear when he said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
My journey began here in North Carolina when I was born in Winston-Salem as the youngest of 4 kids in our family. A couple of years later my father took a job at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Fortunately, we visited relatives here in the High Country on a regular basis which cultivated in me a sense that Western North Carolina was my home and instilled a desire to one day return to the Blue Ridge Mountains. James Taylor’s music during my high school years in the early 1970’s only intensified that desire.
The late 60’s and early 70’s were also a time of social unrest, the beginning of widespread drug use, and national protests against the war in Vietnam. I was one of those youths caught up in rebellious attitudes and drug use, and found myself without any sense of purpose or hope in life.
During this time a very good high school friend showed me a verse in the Bible that said “he who believes in him ( Jesus) will not be disappointed.” I was intrigued by this because none of my friends read the Bible or ever went to church. In fact, I very much disliked the church and most Christians. But at the time quite a few folk musicians were mentioning Jesus, including James Taylor. A few months later I awoke in the middle of the night with the above noted Bible verse (I Corinthians 2:9) on my mind, even though I hadn’t looked at a Bible since early childhood. Though intrigued by the experience I continued in my rebellion and drug use.
My mediocre performance in school, associated with my drug use, financial constraints, and the risk of being drafted for service in Vietnam, made attending college in North Carolina unfeasible. Instead I entered college in Ohio which I grew to dislike very much. Despite my distaste, while there I was invited by some former hippies to a fellowship gathering which turned out to be about 75 people singing Bible verses and praying for 2 hours.
It was a group of Christians that were committed to their faith and not just stuffy people playing religious games. That night I threw out my marijuana, hash and pipes, got on my knees and cried out to God for forgiveness and for Jesus to be the Lord of my life.
I finished that first quarter in school (barely) but left the school to live at Grace Haven Farm, a Christian commune in Mansfield, Ohio. Most of us were former hippies who now studied the Bible, worked the farm, and made candles and leather goods.
One of the greatest emotional struggles of my life occurred that spring while living and working on the farm. I sensed I was called to go back to the same college I hated, the Ohio State University. I had hoped to go to a small Christian college, or possibly do foreign mission work, but not OSU. Why couldn’t it be somewhere in North Carolina, or maybe Oregon? But there was no fighting my calling, and despite my frustration I soon found myself on the campus of the college I so disliked.
Once I was back I was challenged by some friends to work diligently and be successful at the university, and they taught me how to study effectively. I have some amazing stories from those years at OSU, achieving way beyond my ability. God truly prospered me and then my chemistry professor encouraged me to apply for medical school. I needed those words of encouragement because this was something I had hoped to do but had felt was an impossibility.
For several reasons I decided to stay at OSU for my medical education, where I thought I would pursue a career in adult cardiology. In the late summer going into my final year I took the required pediatric course and was surprised to discover a feeling of being called into a career as a pediatrician. I had never considered pediatrics as I had very much “disliked” going to the doctor when I was a child. During that rotation I found I had a love for kids, some of it from knowing that Christ has a compassion for the weak, vulnerable, and those that are suffering.
Upon graduation I moved to Dallas, Texas do my pediatric residency at the Children’s Medical Center. Though residency was extremely demanding, I have a great appreciation for the program, and the doctors and professors that taught me the profession I love. My fellow residents were also fantastic and taught me so very much. I still think of them foundly.
A very significant part of God leading me to Dallas, rather than some other program, was that Carol Runstrom had just moved there to begin her work as an RN in the pediatric ICU at CMC. We met when I was doing a procedure on one of our mutual patients, and then realized we were both going to the same church. We were married 22 months later.
After residency, Carol and I moved with our first son, Rick, to southwestern Michigan for my first position and to be near our families in the Midwest. We had two more kids during our 4 years there, Hallie and Ben. Eventually the long, cold winters (worse than Boone), lengthy work hours (spent without seeing my own children) and the lifelong sense that North Carolina was my home, prompted us to move to Boone during Christmas, 1986. Our youngest son, Matt, joined the family that next autumn. Like his father he gets to claim to be a native Tar Heel. All 3 of our sons are married and we absolutely love each of our daughters-in-law, (Amanda, Brooke, and Deva) two of whom are from Boone. Hallie has just announced her engagement and we are excited to welcome Tim into our family. Besides all these blessings, we now have 6 wonderful grandsons. My years in Boone have been fantastic, and we are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places in this great country. I have had the honor and privilege to work with partners at Blue Ridge Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine and a staff that is incredible. I am truly thankful for each and every one of our present and past employees.
The above points are places on the journey where individuals have impacted me and encouraged me in life. However, since Watauga County is where I have spent the majority of my life, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that there are numerous local service organizations and ministries that have been a blessing to me. Yet I am reluctant to be specific because I would likely leave out someone worthy of recognition, and the list would be quite lengthy. Watching them work, it suffices to say that we are ambassadors and servants of a mighty King who is deserving of all the honor.
However, one organization that should be noted is World Medical Missions as they have given me the opportunity to serve the poor and needy in remote areas of the world. I am certain of the Lord’s teaching that He has a compassion for the poor, the sick and those suffering. From my travels I always return home aware that I have received more than I have given. These medical trips are a part of the journey, taking me to places I never dreamed I would be able to go to.
Twelve years ago I began a new adventure, running for my health. Anyone that knows me is aware of my “obsession’ with running (with some cycling and swimming added in for good measure). Running has produced numerous benefits in my life, from physical to mental and spiritual (I love to pray while running). I mention this part of my life because I cannot think of a better place to live and enjoy this sport than western North Carolina, yet this hobby has affected me across the globe. My running has prompted the laughter of children, and likely adults as well, in remote Kenya where only children run (I was not in the Kenyan marathon training region!). I believe the white legs of an old man running must have been a funny sight for those children. Twice I have stumbled while running those dirt paths in Africa, once in Kenya, the other time in South Sudan. Both times I was offered sympathetic assistance by onlookers as I stood up with abrasions on hands and knees.
One aspect of moving forward in a journey is the likelihood of stumbling or taking a wrong turn. During my time helping with a local Boy Scout troop, I was teaching an orienteering course and realized how important it is when lost to return to the last known place on the trail to determine the correct path forward. Turning back from a wrong direction (repentance) is necessary to keep from going further off course. Even stumbling in the right direction may occur when traveling and often results in injury, teaching us that despite doing the right things we still have a need for grace and divine assistance.
As I contemplate this, I’m aware of my own stumbles and imperfections and that far too often I have hurt others with my words or expressions. Therefore, I wish to publicly apologize to all those that I have hurt. A line from Josh Garrels’ song Slip Away says “please forgive me before we reach the end.” That’s a plea for forgiveness that I ask of any that I have offended.
In this article, I have referenced a few songs from my love of music. One of the songs that I have come to love is At the Table by Josh Garrels. I identify with the story of wandering away and being called to return home. My desire is to encourage others in their walk and journey, to press on despite trials in this world.
