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Pastors' November Message-"Great Cloud of Witnesses" |
2004-01-16 |
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
I ran the Twin Cities Marathon on the fifth of October. It was a cool, clear perfect morning to go for a 26 mile run. I ran with over seven thousand other people. It took me almost two minutes to even reach the starting line after the starting gun, because there were so many runners lined up in front of me. I was surrounded by other runners the entire way, and it was a comfort to me when I was beginning to hurt in the late miles to know that I was not alone. There was always someone beside me and in front of me. Some of them seemed to be running more comfortably than I was. Others appeared to be struggling so badly that I wondered how they kept up a pace ahead of mine. As the miles added up, I began to focus more and more inwardly and concentrate on remaining confident, calm, and keeping my growing discomfort from overcoming my will to keep going forward to the finish.
I was not only surrounded by several thousand other runners. There were over two hundred and fifty thousand people lining the entire course cheering us on. It would have been impossible to get lost, because the course was literally lined with people every step of the way.
I was amazed at how such a vast crowd came out to encourage us. Many of them had signs with the names of loved ones on them, and they became familiar because they reappeared every few miles along the way. I was wearing a Milbank shirt, and every mile or so someone would yell “way to go Milbank”, even though they did not know who I was. Janine and the kids were at the one mile mark, and it was a thrill to share this experience with them. I spent the early miles looking at the faces of the people along the side of the road, hoping to see someone I knew. An old friend from Langford was at the eight mile mark, and she and her family and Janine and the kids were together to cheer me on at the 25 mile mark, when I really needed some encouragement to “go the last mile.” Children would stand close to the runners and hold out their hands so we could touch them as we ran by. There were volunteers handing out drinks every mile along the way.
As I ran I realized that I was surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, both those running with me and the far greater number of those cheering us on and encouraging us from the side of the road. Completing the marathon would have been much more difficult, if not impossible, if I had been attempting it alone. The companionship of my fellow runners and the support of those who lined the way made it possible to run the race and finish it successfully.
The month of November begins with All Saints Day on the first, and ends with Thanksgiving. On All Saints we celebrate all those who have been baptized and those who have died and gone to heaven. The baptized are with us as we run the race together, and those who have died have joined the great cloud of witnesses who continue to surround us and encourage us even though we may not always realize they are there. We give thanks to God for His many blessings, especially that He has given us the perseverance to run the race marked out for us, and that none of us ever runs that race alone. Don’t give up. There’s quite a crowd cheering you on! |
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
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401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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