Fuel for the Race
It has been great hearing from some of our sisters and brothers in recent contributions to the Friday letter. We really do enjoy the benefits of being a part of the Body of Christ which is willing to encourage one another!
Speaking of encouragement, let me share with you an encounter I had last week. Many of you know I enjoy running. I don't run races and I am not fast. But I plod out my share of miles in a week. So, after dropping off Lydia, Noah and Tobias at the airport for a trip to Vancouver, I decided I would take their car back to their house in Alger Heights and run home. On the one hand my run home was lovely involving the Ken-O-Sha trail, but on the other hand it simultaneously turned out to be kind of miserable. What made it miserable? Well, it was early afternoon for one thing. My body is accustomed to running in the morning and seems to do better then. Plus, I had had some lunch a bit earlier and was still feeling it in my gut. Plus, it was like 87 degrees outside. I love this spate of warmth and am banking it all against the dregs of March, but I was feeling the heat that day. Plus, I have been battling some lower leg pain that seems to be moving all around my left leg. That day for some reason it was in my foot? And to top it all off, the last leg of my run was up what is known on Strava as the Chamberlain Challenge, which is .6 miles at 2.1% uphill grade. I realize a 2.1% grade is not exactly like running in the Rockies, but I was feeling it that day! In many ways this run was a metaphor for life. A lot of beauty. A lot to be thankful for. But also doggone hard, with obstacles within and without.
Anyway, my travails had caused me to ease up and I was trying to figure out what was going on with my foot and if I could continue, when I hear a vehicle coming up behind me. I turned and was greeted by a mailman holding out a bottle of water. He was very friendly, encouraging me to take the water. His English was good, but it was not his first language so he was gesturing to me as well to take the water and even to pour some out on my head. As he made this gesture, he removed his hat and I was able to see that he also had a lovely head that did not have need of hair and perhaps he recognized a familiar sensitivity in the hot sun. As this short encounter came to an end, I gratefully took the water and he continued on his route. After a couple of swallows of the blessed elixir and a dash or two on my uncovered pate, I was able to rally, finish the Chamberlain challenge and make it home.
And so we come to 2 Timothy 1:8-18, our passage for Sunday. Paul, as it were, catches up to young Timothy through this letter. Timothy is facing obstacles, within and without, as he runs the path the Lord has laid out for him. As Paul pulls up beside him, he extends the bottle of water, the Gospel. It is the power of God, our salvation and our holy calling, given not earned, through his purpose and grace, given through Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light (cf. 2 Tim 2:9,10). Paul calls out to Timothy, I am being poured out, but I am not ashamed. I do not lose heart. My strength does not flag. I am sustained by this gospel. Drink deeply my friend.
Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash