“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of
witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin
which so easily entangles us, and let us
run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Every November, one of the main phone carriers here in Uganda,
MTN, sponsors a race that navigates through the typically chaotic streets of
Kampala. So, in preparation for that…I spent the month of November running.
Running is typically an activity that I enjoy doing alone. It
allows me to gather my thoughts, process life and lessons that the Lord is
teaching me, listen to a sermon from my home church, or just shut down my brain
and sing along to some of my favorite songs on my IPod. However, November I
spent running with a plus one. He is 13 (or 12…or 14). Regardless, he had never
run a day in his life for “fun” until that first week of November. He isn’t
necessarily the most athletic boy, or the first to jump at a chance to do something
active…however, he quickly asked if he could join me and the “big” boys for our
training early morning runs. (4 of the older boys at DOORS also spent the month
running to train for this Kampala race).
I learned a lot from this runner. He amazed me because he never
once doubted he could do it, could run 5k day one of training, and work up to
10k in less than a month. He never once became intimidated by the older boys
who barely broke a sweat and ran far ahead of us. He never once quit even after
the hard first day and sore legs that followed. He never once considered not
waking up at 6am to put his body through the same torture. Instead, he jumped
out of bed every morning and beat me to the front porch where we started from,
stretching before I even had my sneakers on. He showed up every morning, rain
or shine, and waited for his running partner. What also really gets me though,
is he has no shame when he runs. Running here with a white person first thing
in the morning while young students make their way to school isn’t exactly the
“coolest” thing to do as a teenage boy…especially as little children run behind
us for a couple of steps, older students mock under their breath, and the word
“muzungu” (foreigner) never ceases to be heard. He doesn’t mind the comments
and even ignores them without defending or shouting anything back. He has no
shame in asking for help or support when we are going uphill or he falls behind
exhausted…instead of walking or turning back, he reaches out and grabs my hand
knowing that maybe he can’t do it alone, but we can definitely do it together.
These runs have taught me so much about running the race set
before us by Christ that Paul references in Hebrews. I like running alone
because it is easier, I can catch up on thoughts and shut out the world, I can
go at my own pace and don’t have to worry myself over being judged by someone
else when I decide to walk or slow down. As much as I like running alone, I
love my runs now. I run more aware of my surroundings and company. I run
slower, yes, but further than I ever would alone. I take turns and routes that
I never would alone. I run knowing someone has my back and the second I get
tired or feel like I can’t go on, I can just reach out my hand and grab onto
another to get me over the hill being climbed. He is taught me what it means to
run a race with a cloud of witnesses,
and not grow weary in doing so.
In life, we need community on the race we run. We need people whose
hands we can reach out to for encouragement, support, wisdom, and
accountability. We need others to stretch us to try things we’ve never thought
we could, or go places we never would go otherwise. We need people to
experience each step of the crazy race the Lord has us on. Yes, our paths may
only collide momentarily on the marathon that is life, but when one brother or
sister leaves our immediate side, another faithfully surfaces.
Who are you running the race set before you with now? Are you
running too fast (or too slow) for anyone to stay at your side? Whose hand do
you have to reach to?
I thank my God every time I reflect on past runners I have raced
with, and am filled at awe at the racers I currently run with (including my new
running partner). My challenge…reaching out my hand for help when I feel like I
want to quit or fall behind. God calls us to community throughout life that we
may not grow weary in our races, that we may not be deterred from our path, and
that we wouldn’t stop or slow down when we get tired but continue to just put
one foot in front of another.
Run well, Run together.
