“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” — Hebrews 12:1
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During some of the coverage of the Paris Games in 2024, they were showing one of the bike races and I jotted down some worthy life lessons as I heard the commentators talk about the sport in general, but also specifically how to endure and survive a demanding race of this sort. I’ve ended up applying these metaphoric references many times to my own life in the last year and thought I’d share them with you:
1) Never underestimate the power of a team
During one of the races I watched, the commentators referenced a moment that had happened earlier when someone on the Belgian team had gotten a flat tire partway through the race. They spoke of how the team had “saved the day” with a fresh bike, allowing the racer to finish the remaining part. In events like the Daytona 500 or even cross-country skiing, you see the value of having a team around you. Someone needs to be the “pit crew,” so to speak — help available to you during the race so you can focus on getting to the finish line. In the life of faith, God designed us to function in community. From the beginning, He established that it’s not good for us to go at it alone. We need a support system of spiritually healthy and vibrant people who can lift us up and give us what we need for the journey.
2) Be prepared to suffer
One of the commentators said, “The ones who win the most are the ones who are prepared to suffer — to lock themselves in the hurt box and throw away the key.” While this may seem extreme, I think there’s some value in the spiritual life to anticipating hard things. Most of us are caught by surprise with suffering, as if the road with Jesus was meant to be smooth sailing. But what did He actually tell us to expect? “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We show up in the trouble as we train for the trouble.
3) Identify who isn’t willing to contribute
As the commentators explained to the viewers, the cyclist in front of the pack does the most work. They break the wind so others can draft and save their legs, allowing them to slingshot by the leader and have a push toward the finish. You’ll often see the cyclists communicating and checking periodically if someone else wants to move in front for a bit. Again, there’s teamwork involved. Some want to draft the entire way and never do their part at the front, sometimes necessitating that they get dropped off the back of the pack. Which begs a question here: Who wants to draft off of your success or walk with God and not contribute anything? Who is slowing you down in your race?
We’re all in this race called life together. The finish line is eternity and with every day, we get closer. But we still have need of endurance, teamwork and support in order to get there. Make sure you have the right attitude and the right people around you so you can finish the race well.
— Katherine Singer
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