Wow. Ten years ago yesterday we opened the doors to crossWinds church. I find myself comparing the decade to running a marathon. I’m allowed to make the comparison only because I ran 1/4th of a marathon a few years ago. That makes me an athlete and therefore entitled to use athletic comparisons. I digress in justification.Anyway… at the start of race you can’t wait. You’re excited to get started. You’ve trained (hopefully). You’ve got the right equipment (shoes and shorts). You have run the race in your mind (over and over). And suddenly you’re off. The mental images are becoming reality.
At first running feels great. The early miles go by fluidly. Any hills are faced bravely and with confidence. But somewhere during the marathon runners often struggle. Doubt creeps in. The legs feel like rubber. Every breath... every step requires focused energy to keep the pavement moving beneath your feet. And suddenly you’re not so sure about this run. This is what runners call the wall. If they hit a wall early in the run… they will probably hit more of them.
Marathons by definition are long distance. Churches are the same. What we began together ten years ago is a long term venture. We started with incredible energy and some naivety. I think both are required or else we might not run at all.
We’ve had our walls. But we continue to keep breathing. We propel our feet forward. And then we get a second wind, a third wind, and so forth. And if we are going to run to the finish line we will need to keep getting “winds”. Because sometimes running is sheer pleasure and sometimes it isn't.
Two related thoughts:
1. I’m grateful to be running with you who are a part of crossWinds. As I barely whispered through choked voice yesterday, it is a privilege.
2. We never run alone. We never ever run alone.
Whether you find yourself fighting the wall today or in an exhilarating down hill stretch of your race, keep running!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT
2 comments:
I love the marathon analogy! Makes me even more glad I ran today. Thanks for running the race. I hadn't expected to feel so nostalgic last night and was surprised at just how emotional I was considering I thought I was just showing up to the party. :-)
God has taken me many places in the last ten years. crossWinds has been one of the best of them. Thanks for serving. Your dedication and teaching have helped me to know more about Jesus and have helped me to become a little more like him...Your sister, Wendy
You've come a long way in 10 years... or 20 years since that's when I knew you best. How awesome that God has blessed you.
-Bridget Bjerke McCort
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