This weekend I went to a middle school track meet to see a young friend run. It’s the first track meet that I’ve been to in more than twenty years. During the first couple races I found myself getting emotional, not from nostalgia, but because of the group experience of cheering on those on our team. There’s something strengthening for runners and spectators alike to know that you’re not out there alone and others want to encourage you to do your best. (Perhaps that’s one reason I always did better at track than cross country, where spectators are few and far between.)
That idea was mentioned more than once in our church gatherings Sunday morning—we need each other. I think sometimes we take our church family for granted. We assume that people know we love them. We assume they will call us if they need something. Or we assume that others are busy with their own concerns and we should keep our problems to ourselves. But we need each other far more than we know. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us,
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and since which clings to closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
I think nearly every sermon I’ve heard on this verse has referred solely to the “Hall of Faith” in chapter 11 as that cloud of witnesses. But I’m increasingly convinced that it includes every Christian—and perhaps especially the ones sitting in the next pew on Sunday morning. We need cheerleaders in all the races of life, not just the stories of those who have already finished the race. Biographies may bring a bit of encouragement, but they can only go so far in spurring us to keep running when there are more hurdles than we’re prepared for.
During the track meet, the Piedmont coach was frequently heard yelling, “Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Keep going!” And he didn’t limit his cheers to his own team, but shared his energy with all the kids. Sometimes church members can get tunnel vision and think that our church’s “team” is the only one that matters, forgetting that every Christian is on the same team. We are all running for the same finish line, and we can all cheer one another on regardless of our differences of opinion on secondary issues.
For various reasons (some of which I don’t understand) I’ve needed some cheerleaders lately. It helps to be reminded that others see me, care for me, and pray for me. They may not take away any of the hurdles, but they can put a little more spring in the next step and a little more oxygen in the next breath. And I know I’m not the only one who’s feeling the strain of life in a busy and fallen world. We could all use a regular pep talk to help us keep running and “holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain” (Phil. 2:16).
May we all be those who are heard yelling to one another, “Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Keep going! You can make it!”
“For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:28-29).
