June 9: Running Alongside

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that I was at Awards Day for my son’s school. It was an unexpectedly emotional morning. It was not tears of pride for my son as he strolled across the stage, for that was not to be this year. What blew me away and had the tears rolling down my cheeks was the P.E. awards. That’s right, P.E., gym class. Go figure.

For a brief time in my life I was a middle school coach and P.E. instructor. That was 23 years and nearly 100 pounds ago.

But I digress. So, yesterday the lady coach is handing out awards and she tells the story of this one student, a young lady in 7th grade who finished running her required mile for the Presidential Fitness Awards and she kept running. She wasn’t showing off. She would run alongside a peer who was struggling, slow to their pace, and encourage them on.

When that person finished their mile, she would zero in on someone else. This girl is quiet and shy, and not one to call attention to herself. This was not about self-promotion. Everyone needed to do a mile in at least 13 minutes, a "piece of cake" for some, a struggle up Mt. Everest for others.

She ran alongside, whispering, “We can do this. Keep it up. Almost there.” She continued this, helping one classmate to finish, and then finding another who was about to run out of gas. She did this until the track was cleared, everyone had finished…and within the allotted time. Wow! Yes, I’m leaking again as I write about the episode.

That’s a picture of what Jesus does for us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised His disciples, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)

The word for Holy Spirit in the original language literally means “the one who walks alongside.” So Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, does for us everyday what that young lady did for her classmates: He walks alongside us, encouraging us, correcting us, and teaching us. He is our Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace.

As you’re running (the rat race?) today, feel His presence; hear His encouraging words. He is alive! And He is your running mate. “Since we have life by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

~ Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit. Help me to stay in step. Amen.