Theme: We are all Marathoners

Verse: Romans 14:1-23

Do you know what is great about running a race? You get to be on “field of play” at the same time as all sorts of skill levels. That doesn’t happen in other sports. By their very nature, other sports are designed such that different skill levels (or age groups) are segregated to keep the competition fair and interesting.

But that is not how life works, is it? As we go about our lives, we encounter people with different experiences and abilities. The differences are what make life interesting. In the movie, Pleasantville, a couple of 1990s teenagers jump into a 1950’s television show in which everything is, as the title suggests, “pleasant”. The high school basketball team wins every game (and never misses a shot), the weather is a constant 72 degrees with no humidity (a weather forecaster’s dream), and everyone has perfect relationships. As the 90’s teenagers jump in, everything is in black and white (just like TV shows used to be); in a word, “BORING”. Then, as these newcomers introduce new ideas into the community, things turn into beautiful vivid colors.

We need differences in our world to make life interesting. God created each of us as a unique person with something important to contribute to this race we call LIFE. It does not matter if we run the marathon in 3 hours or 7 hours. The important thing is that we participate, and we finish the race.

This week let’s embrace the truth that while our Declaration of Independence declares that “all were created equal”, it does not mean that we are “the same”. And for that we can be very grateful!

Have a great week!

Adapted from They Will Run and Not Grow Weary by David Alan Blac