In cross country, runners are scored by the place in which they finished. The first runner across the finish line receives one point, second runner gets two points, etc.. Each team's final score is the sum of their first five finishers' points.
Our team's fans cheered our runners while still trying to keep track of what place each girl was in. Our first runner across the finish line usually ran second. Our second runner usually ran third. The third one across the finish line for our team usually ran first. Then came the fourth runner. It wasn't our usual runner. The girl coming across usually ran fifth or sixth. The fifth runner wasn't who the fans expected either. This was our other fifth or sixth place runner. Where was our girl, one of the strengths of our team. She came in as number six, and in tears. She had tried so hard, but knew she had failed. Many of the fans felt the same way as they waited for the race results.
Our number six runner had had an extremely rough day. She was fighting a cold, and before the race started, her asthma started acting up. During the race she knew she was slipping from her usual fourth place down to fifth, then to sixth, as two teammates passed her. She started to give up because she felt that if she wasn't able to finish as one of her team's top five, she no longer mattered. She had let the team down. But this young lady's competitive spirit finally took over. She decided to push through by giving it all she had. It wasn't much, but it was something. Her something allowed her to pass a couple runners on the team they ultimately beat.
What she didn't know was that during her struggles, her teammates' strengths were making up for her weakness. One girl increased her own personal record in the three mile race by thirty seconds. Another increased by twenty. The rest of her teammates remained fairly consistent.
Everyone anxiously waited for the results. It took forever before the final scores were posted. Our girls took second place with ninety-five points. The third place team also had ninety-five points. The determining factor was our struggling runner, number six, and her "do the best I can" thinking. Her passing the other teams' number six runner made the final difference. But it wasn't just her. The girls with p.r.s helped achieve the ninety-five points. Everyone had counted. Everyone had made a difference.
The team coach took advantage of the victory to encourage all his runners; whether number one or number eight, they are each important to the team.
As I kept thinking about this yesterday, I thought of the church--the body of Christ.There are always those in the top-five lime-light, so to speak. They are looked up to and admired for their leadership. They often receive recognition, thanks, and the praise. Too often, those of us in the middle of the pack, or bringing up the rear, tend to feel we have nothing to contribute, therefore we are not important. Why try?
We are so wrong.
We, you and I, are the body of Christ. Yes, the leaders are important. They set the pace and set the path that has been determined, but everyone of us is needed.
Years ago I learned a song that went something like this,
The church is not a building.
The church is not a steeple.
The church is not a resting place.
The church is the people.
That's why we try. We are the people. We are the church. We do count! each and everyone of us. Not everyone can organize an event. Not everyone can lead worship, play the keyboard, guitar, or drums. Not everyone can preach or teach.
Why organize small groups, Bible studies, family picnics, or clothing banks if no one comes or invites others?
Why lead worship if no one worships?
Why preach or teach if no one listens?
That is where we come in: to attend, to worship, to listen, and to invite.
Our attentiveness to a sermon, or our "Amen" might be just the encouragement that energizes the pastor. Our smiles and friendly "hello" at worship or a gathering might be the touch a person needs in their sorrow, loneliness, or depression. A smile to a stranger at the grocery story can work wonders. The Lord can use a note we write, a phone call we make, an invitation we extend, or a word we speak to answer someone's prayer or draw them closer to him.
A personal touch expresses Christ's love in a way that a flow chart can't. We do count.
And those days we fall short? The Lord has someone who can step in, someone who is having an exceptionally good day. On our bad days, we keep pressing on, giving what we have, and overcoming what opposition we can. On our good days we do more that we ever thought we could. Because God puts my ups together with your downs, and vice versa, we have a winning team. Everyone counts.
I want to run a great race, but am thankful for team support when I have an off season. Thankfully we don't have to wait for the final results. We know the Lord's team ultimately wins the race.
Jan, Licorice Kitty and family,
(The kittens spent ten minutes this evening climbing up and down my pant legs. Man alive, their little claws are sharp!)
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