Two warring images impede my mind these days:  Loss & Running.

First, the image of loss comes.  Walk with me through the heaviness found in a season of loss.  For less than thirty days, the loss continues to weigh heavily on us as we run the race toward eternity.  Less than thirty days ago, our church family walked through the valley of death as one of our own passed away after a too-brief battle with cancer.  The pain of separation remains within the congregation of people who continue to meet together for worship each week.

• Loss weighs us down, just as a burden.
• Loss becomes a weight we carry.
• Loss creates a stumbling block that may cause us to fall.
• Loss tests our faith, causing us to walk away from the race.
• Even:  “Lord, why are You allowing this to occur, to bring pain within our church family?”

I wonder, will those affected be able to rise, to move forward past their loss, to begin moving again, to begin moving their feet, to race forward, moving toward “that final day” when the Lord will beckon them home?

Secondly, this week, while walking through a normal Wednesday, loss came again, as a normal school day unfolded.  When it walked in through a simple email, one that beckoned us to be present, for individual meetings, each person wondered—WHY.   As the 8:30 hour came, the heaviness of loss was immediately felt; it could even be seen upon so many faces.  Sounds of tears could be heard, even anger. Most-truly, the loss of employment brings its own heaviness, even fear.

• What action has caused this?
• What now?
• Where do we go from here?
• Could this have been avoided?
• Even:  “Lord, why are You allowing this to occur, to break up our work-family?”

Again, I wonder, will those affected be able to rise, to move forward past their loss, to begin moving again, to begin moving their feet, to race forward, moving toward “that final day” when the Lord will beckon them home?

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; . . .”

Finally, the image of a race, of running a course, floods my mind.  The month of September brings the cross-country season of races.  Each early morning as I drive onto campus, several runners are preparing themselves.  Visibly, they run across campus while others sleep, running, putting in miles, practicing in preparation.  In the coolness of the day, before the heat, and while the world sleeps, these athletes train, hopeful that their pain, sweat and tears will gain them the prize found in finishing the race—first.

The Bible compares our walk of faith with a race.  In his many letters to the early Christians, the apostle Paul encourages the believers TO ‘run the race’ TO ‘finish the course’ AND TO ‘keep the faith’ to the very end.

In the sport of cross-country, one important rule every coach teaches is this:  LOOK STRAIGHT HEAD, NOT LOOKING TO THE LEFT, TO THE RIGHT, OR BACK OVER THE SHOULDER, for if you do, the race could be lost.

In the race of faith, the world surrounds us, roaring from the sidelines, tempting us to act, to be more like them, but WE MUST NOT BE TEMPTED TO LOOK TO OUR LEFT OR TO OUR RIGHT OR EVEN OVER OUR SHOULDER at the life we think we enjoyed before Christ, for if we do, if we turn aside, if we turn back, the race will be lost.

• We must NOT be like those who are not even running in the race—yet!
• We must NOT act as those who are not yet believing, but who are running away from God!

The Bible is clear about this.

Thus, what does ‘loss’ teach us about running the race of faith?

Truly, this question has filled my mind for a season of nights.  This question wakes me in the wee hours of each morning too.  Loss of Life.  Loss of Relationships.  Loss of Employment.  Loss of Whatever Appears ‘Normal.’  In searching for the answer to my question, I found myself looking within God’s Word.

The apostle Peter reminds each believer, each redeemed one, each Christian—