Find A Rhythm

Find a Rhythm

The running rhythm varies with each runner. Some seem to be born runners—with small, light, long strides and great lung capacity, they almost glide on the track. At the other end of the spectrum come the heavyweights, the over-six-feet-tall and over-two-hundred-pounds guys who seem to lumber along the route—yet both finish and do their best. Every marathon produces runners-who-shouldn’t-be-runners stories: an octogenarian, a cancer survivor, a veteran on prosthetics, even a blind competitor. Each of these men and women finds his or her respective rhythm and runs the race, often serving as an example and motivation for others.

Christ’s church is marked by variety as well—believers of every shape, age, size, social group, ethnic background, and personal challenge. Yet we come together in local churches and use our unique gifts to minister and serve; we run the race together. And in his grace, God uses some of the least likely to succeed as his choice servants. As Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth:

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. (1 Corinthians 1:26-28)

Each person needs to choose his or her own pace (Week 21) and find his or her own rhythm.

The Runner

Alex was a decent athlete, having played a wide variety of sports growing up, including stints on the high school football and basketball teams. He even played college football. But he never saw himself as a long-distance runner. As Alex aged and his metabolism slowed, he thought he ought to take up jogging for health reasons. Running seemed easy enough—it was faster than walking and didn’t require a heavy financial investment. So Alex started slow and over several months worked up to running five miles. And that was a big deal for him.

Alex would hear about marathons, especially the one held annually in his city, but he never seriously considered running in one—that was way beyond his comfort level. Then one day he reconnected with an old friend, Pat. In the course of their conversation, Pat mentioned that he had become a runner (surprising Alex, because Pat was built like a fireplug) and that he had finished a marathon (shocking because Pat had lost a knee cap in a sledding accident years ago). After their conversation, Alex thought, Hmmm—if Pat can run a marathon, I ought to be able to. About a month later, the sports section reported the results of his city’s race and featured a story about a man with no feet—just stumps in socks and shoes—who had finished.

That did it. With both of those men serving as examples, Alex decided to train for next year’s race. If they could do it, he could. And he did.

The Race

Alex found inspiration and motivation through what Pat and the man with no feet had accomplished. Alex, in turn, has motivated others through his example. None of those men are world-class runners—far from it. Each one has his own running rhythm and runs his unique race.

In the same way, we can inspire and motivate others by how we run the Christian race, by how we live and serve, even though by the world’s standards we aren’t “powerful,” “wealthy,” “wise,” or “important.” Paul knew that was true. That’s why he said, “You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

The Result

If you ever think you’re underqualified or too unimportant to be used by God, remember 1 Corinthians 1:28: “God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” God will use you to further his Kingdom and to motivate others to do the same.

Understanding that you have a special role to play in Christ’s Kingdom, find your spiritual service rhythm and use your gifts for God’s glory.

My Story

I have never been one to spend much time running around a track for exercise. And I don’t know if I have ever used a treadmill. For me, running is not just a way to stay fit but a chance to explore, to experience the sights, smells, sounds, and climate around me.

I’ve run on pleasant spring days. I’ve run through rain, through snow, and in humidity so thick I almost had to grow gills to breathe in the air. The exciting fact is that no two outings are the same. Something is different every time—weather, scenery, people (or animals) I meet along the way.

I’ve had opportunities to run in different places around the world, too. I’ve plodded along the flat, straight farm roads of the low country in South Carolina. I’ve taken in the salty sea air along the coast of Mozambique. I’ve run up and down the hilly streets of Jerusalem (in the new city). I’ve jogged past caf´es in Spain. I’ve stared in awe at the majestic mountain peaks in British Columbia. I’ve enjoyed the brilliant reds and yellows of a New England fall while jogging in New Hampshire.

Of all the places I’ve run, my favorite is the farmlands of Centenary, Zimbabwe. My parents lived and ministered there during my college years, and I would visit during my summer or Christmas breaks. I remember setting off along the small, winding roads early in the morning at sunrise. The tall blonde grass hung over the edges of the lane, and the hills (kopjes) stood silhouetted against the brightening sky. I would pass villages and the intoxicating smell of cooking fires and the cheerful chatter of grandmothers preparing breakfast. On most mornings I would greet children on their way to school, and sometimes they would run along with me for a while. Then there were the farm laborers harvesting the tobacco crop. And every morning the soothing sound of the laughing dove was medicine for my soul.

In the late afternoons I would go down to the farm compound and play an exhausting game of soccer with the farm workers. We would play on that dusty field until the sun sank below the horizon and we could barely make out the shape of the ball. The next morning I’d hit the road again. There I was in the middle of Africa—out of my element yet at the same time never more in it.

What a gift that God allows us to experience the wonders of his creation each day. And I feel I’m able to take it in even more when I’m out running.

Mark

Think It Through

1. Who are some people who surprised you by finishing a marathon? Why were you surprised?

2. Who has surprised you by how God has used them in ministry? Why were you surprised?

3. In what ways is your spiritual running rhythm unique for you? What gifts are you using for God’s glory?

4. Who do you think might be inspired and motivated by seeing how God is using you?

On Running

Why does my heart rate increase when I run?

Heart rate is determined by the amount of blood pushed through the body. Blood carries the needed oxygen for your muscles and brain to function. When you run, your muscles are doing more work and need more oxygen. As your breathing increases to get more oxygen, your heart rate increases in order to move blood more quickly to the needed muscles.