Race-Pacers
By Karen D’Amore
“Therefore
encourage one another…”
1 Thessalonians 5:11a (NIV)
When I registered to run a four-mile
race with three coworkers, we discussed how our different paces would have us
finishing the race at different times. We agreed that we’d each wait at the
finish line until everyone completed the race. On race day, the dynamics
changed when only two of us showed up.
My racemate was a newer,
inexperienced runner. She was visibly nervous as she’d never run four miles
before. She admitted to feelings of intimidation when running with friends who
were faster than she. Self-absorbed as I was with finishing faster than my
previous races, I still assured her I’d wait patiently for her at the finish
line. I encouraged her to pace herself and just focus on finishing.
Before our race, the race promoter
briefed the crowd regarding water, first-aid stations and “pacers” along the
route. A pacer’s job is to set and maintain a pace that aligns with the runner’s
training and experience, and helps them to stay on track in finishing the race in
a specific amount of time.
As the horn sounded and I sped past
my racemate, conviction welled in my self-centered race shoes. Feeling “The
Nudge” to become my racemate’s pacer, I s-l-o-w-e-d down and ran alongside her.
In the final mile, as the heaviness of her feet mimicked her labored breathing,
her running slowed and she dropped behind me. I maintained a slow but steady
pace, and when the finish line became visible, I reached back and took ahold of
her hand. As we re-aligned alongside each other, we crossed the finish line…hand-in-hand…side-by-side!
Beaming with the thrill of victory,
my racemate proudly displayed her race medal. Fearing she couldn’t go the
distance, she shared how encouraged she was having me by her side. She expressed
how following the comfortable pace I’d set enabled her to finish the race. Similarly,
I - - her pacer - - was encouraged watching her “run with endurance”…and finish
the race!
As that nudge of the Holy Spirit
changed my focus and slowed the pace of my personal race, God became my own
“Pacer” and brought scriptural running metaphors to life. Using me as a
“pacer”/encourager, He diverted my selfish focus on finishing fast…to finishing
well!
The Greek root for the word “encourage”
in Thessalonians is translated “close-beside.” [1] With biblical
metaphors likening the Christian life to a race, we’re called to run the race together…
alongside each other…encouraging one another…to finish the race!
Encouragement has different faces -
- requiring different paces! As Christ-followers, let’s be “race-pacers” who
stick close beside our racemates...encouraging one another to “keep running” (Hebrews
12:1) and finish well!
READY…SET…GO!!!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Find a racemate and encourage one
another!
FURTHER
READING:
Married to Dan, Karen, a retired
police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and Foot
Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the Oakwood Women’s
Ministry Special Events planning team.
[1] biblehub.com-Strong’s Concordance
