Running With the Greats
July 18, 2023
It takes a little more than a dab of faith to run a race—whether we’re talking about a foot race or our life’s race. The Bible uses the metaphor of a race to give us a picture of how we are to live our life of faith. It takes perseverance, a vision of the “finish line,” and encouragement from the “spectators,” those present and those who have “finished the race.”
On June 3, I ran with some 5,000 other runners at the Hospital Hill Run. My race was the half marathon which began and finished at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Fifty years ago, Dr. Diamond, head of the UMKC School of Medicine, held a symposium on physical fitness and decided to include a run at the event. Running had become popular in the 1960’s. He approached Dr. Hall at St Luke’s with the idea. The first race was 6.4 miles. The second year of the race was a disaster because the runners didn’t know where to go and they went in different directions. It was so bad they returned the race fee. However, the race continued to grow and has become a big attraction. The hill part of it makes the race quite a challenge. There are some very steep hills.
One summer while in college, I worked at a hospital in that area. There was no Crown Center. Instead, it was called “signboard hill” because there was just a big hill with lots of signs. I came to visit my parents in Kansas City soon after I married, and they were eager to show off the newly developed Crown Center. What a change! When I began running, the Hospital Hill 6.4 miles was one of my first major races. It was their 25th year. As a newbie runner, I certainly didn’t anticipate returning in 25 years to run a half marathon.
My usual procedure before a race is to prepare my mind with a scripture to meditate on as I run. My pastor said that when Psalm 1 speaks of the man being blessed who meditates on God’s law, the word used for “meditate” is the word that we use for the cow chewing the cud. We are to mull over those divine words throughout our day. I think of that analogy when I run. I feel energized by savoring the words God has spoken.
I admit I didn’t have a clear idea of what I would use as my inspiration when I traveled the early morning hours of June 3 to Kansas City. What came to me was the race analogy in the book of Hebrews. The imagery suggests an athletic event in a great amphitheater. Those who are watching are described as heroes of the faith. The Bible speaks of them as “the great cloud of witnesses.”
A description of the heroes begins with the statement that by faith we understand that the universe was created by God speaking the word, that what we see was not made of things that are visible. “The ancients” are commended for looking at their circumstances with the faith that God is at work in the unseen realm.
As I ran, I thought of Abraham and Sarah who had a son, Isaac, when they were very old. When God announced to Sarah through an angel, she laughed. In fact, Isaac means “he who laughs.” The Lord spoke to Abraham and told him that Sarah would bear a child way past the age of childbearing. Abraham “considered him faithful who had made the promise.” I like the question God asked Abraham: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
We hear a lot about Moses, but Moses’ parents are also commended in this chapter for their faith. Did you ever think of the faith it took for them to hide this baby for three months after he was born because they knew Pharoah would kill him if he knew of his existence. He was out to kill all Israelite babies at birth. Why did they hide him? “They saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”
I recalled the story of Moses and his decision to leave Egypt and a life in the palace as the son of Pharoah’s daughter and live in the desert, later to lead his people to the Promised Land. This verse sums up his focus: “he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”
I thought of a few others, like Noah, as I ran. It turned out to be a hot day and one of my running companions became lightheaded and had to slow down a few miles from the finish line. It was the kind of day that you just thanked God to finish upright! I ran with a pacer, a person who determines the pace throughout the race to finish at a designated time. I joined the group that ran with the 3-hour, 5-minute pacer. I finished in 3 hours and 7 minutes, and I was proud of it!
There were spectators along the course and at the finish line. But “the great cloud of witnesses”—those who finished their race of faith and are now in heaven and cheer us on as well—were there too! Whether they literally see us, or their example of perseverance inspires us is for each of us to interpret.
Think of the spectators from above—those who have proven their faith—next time you doubt or get discouraged. We are told to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” May their lives inspire you when you get stuck; or as the scripture expresses it—"so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Running with the “greats” helped me cross the finish line of a hot and hilly race.
