Mark Sorensen I had the opportunity to lead staff devotion this morning alongside people I have worked with for almost ten years and that I love deeply. Here’s what I shared:
I have been running for close to 5 years now. I don’t run to compete, I don’t plan on running a triathlon or hope to achieve gold in the next summer olympics. I really only run for three reasons. One, should a wild dog, boar or alligator attack, I want to be able to keep a steady pace for at least three miles before I am eaten. Two, obviously, there are health benefits to running, which leads me to three: I like bread. Seriously. If I can say this one important thing to every young adult in the room now… enjoy your Taco Bell, Nachos Bell grande, extra cheese lunch because, when you hit 40, your body is gonna hold on to those calories for you.
Now that I have confessed to you that I am a runner, it’s also important for me to admit that I don’t like running. I really want to. Ironically, though running has its health benefits, it has almost killed me on three different occasions. The first was when I was sucking on a throat lozenge while running and sucked it down my throat and it lodged in my windpipe leading me to self Heimlich myself on a strangers ornate brick mailbox. The second was my fault. I was texting while running and ran into the back of a parked van. The third was when either a squirrel or a small cougar chased me all the way back to my house (on that particular run, however, I did finish with one of my fastest running times). That said, I know people that absolutely love a good 11 or 12 mile run (Rhonda Mallory). Seriously. They love it. Which, I admire. But, for me, it’s just never come easy.
Each day I run it all begins the same. I run choppy. It’s just not fluid or easy. Then I hit the half a mile marker and, suddenly, I get into a groove. My breathing steadies and I settle into my pace and take in the sights as I set my turtle’s pace through the neighborhood.
A faith journey can look very much the same way. Honestly? I look at others and they just make it seem so easy. Almost effortless. But it feels like I start, stumble, fall, and, to be honest, I feel like I just make a mess out of it all sometimes. Here’s the thing. Jesus never said it would be easy. The truth is that we are in the world but not of the world. And when you go against the current of the world, it will be a challenge. Jesus was very upfront with the disciples about this truth. But what I love about His words?
…We don’t run alone. We are all on this run together.
Enter each of you, my FUMC family. I am better having run my Christian journey these past nine years with each of you and I am so very grateful for your friendship, love and patience with me. One of my professors, Chuck Killian, shared something this week that fits nicely in regards to change. He wrote, “When exits and entrances appear in our lives, we often miss the small miracles that come with those times. We usually want to hold on tightly to the familiar; we want more. We fail to realize the truth that when one door closes, another opens. And, the truth is, God is at both, in the beginnings and endings.” He never leaves us on the journey and the miracles exist on the road daily, we just need to keep our eyes open.”
One of my earliest scriptures that I put to memory was the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20. I confess I learned it to impress my fellow classmates in Vacation Bible School at little Port Caddo Baptist Church in Marshall, TX. But it’s funny how that verse I learned at 10 years old, has taken deep root in my soul and has become a life mission for me.
In looking at Matt. 28:16-20 in context, you find Jesus has gathered with His disciples on the other side of the resurrection. The scriptures say that the disciples gathered and worshiped Him BUT SOME DOUBTED. It’s understandable, isn’t it? Look at the run they had all been on with Christ. The ups, the downs, the walking on “liquid” incident. They had to be all over the place emotionally. But Jesus met them where they were and said, “Go and make disciples. Baptize them in the name of the father, son and holy spirit and teach them all things whatsoever for I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even until the ends of the age”.
There it is. Don’t miss it. Not only do we have each other, but Christ says He is with us always.
The race may not be easy, but praise God we are not alone and I thank God for each of you and what you mean to me and my family. I’m better on this race because of each and every one of you.
