Shall We Run?
It was funny how it happened, but it happened that I found myself in the book of Hebrews—chapter 12. The familiar pages gave me a comforting hug, encouraging me to taste just a few of the words once again; so I read...
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Verse one sent me to the middle of the cloud of witnesses. There I was, surrounded by a seemingly innocent buzz of people; but I knew better. I imagined these shoppers, families, and passerby's transforming into a well-oiled, angry mob. And once I "laid aside" myself those pitchforks would be pointed at me! Remarkably, the verse continued with the exact though I had at the time: RUN!!! In my head, I ran as fast as my legs would take me, looking back to make sure no one was gaining; then I read verse two...
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
My natural instinct twisted my focus—and my motive. I should have been running TO something not FROM something, and where were my eyes supposed to be? No wonder I was terrified! Also, why was I running in the first place? It was because I was scared of being stifled by the cloud. Could it be that I could stop the fear and run the joy set before me? What if that joy leads to a crossroads?
In this particular instance, I've imagined that the cloud of witnesses is there to oppress me, to make life difficult. But perhaps they're more beautiful than that. Maybe I've been placed in the most populated of "clouds" to invite them to run with me: to give them the chance to hear. Because, right now, they've lost their trail and are meandering around the bazaar. Will I duck my tail and run— escaping the quizzical stares? Or, will I embrace those open ears and make sure they know I'm a runner?
Will I see you along the way, or just at the finish line?
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Verse one sent me to the middle of the cloud of witnesses. There I was, surrounded by a seemingly innocent buzz of people; but I knew better. I imagined these shoppers, families, and passerby's transforming into a well-oiled, angry mob. And once I "laid aside" myself those pitchforks would be pointed at me! Remarkably, the verse continued with the exact though I had at the time: RUN!!! In my head, I ran as fast as my legs would take me, looking back to make sure no one was gaining; then I read verse two...
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
My natural instinct twisted my focus—and my motive. I should have been running TO something not FROM something, and where were my eyes supposed to be? No wonder I was terrified! Also, why was I running in the first place? It was because I was scared of being stifled by the cloud. Could it be that I could stop the fear and run the joy set before me? What if that joy leads to a crossroads?
In this particular instance, I've imagined that the cloud of witnesses is there to oppress me, to make life difficult. But perhaps they're more beautiful than that. Maybe I've been placed in the most populated of "clouds" to invite them to run with me: to give them the chance to hear. Because, right now, they've lost their trail and are meandering around the bazaar. Will I duck my tail and run— escaping the quizzical stares? Or, will I embrace those open ears and make sure they know I'm a runner?
Will I see you along the way, or just at the finish line?
Comments
Post a Comment