“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, his friend can help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9
Another Boston Marathon has come and gone. It was a race of many “firsts.” As she crossed the finish line, Desiree Linden became the first American woman in 33 years to win the race. The weather was brutal with temperatures in the 30s, freakish driving rain, headwinds gusting to 30 miles per hour, the worst weather in Boston Marathon history! The 5 foot 1, 96 pound Linden persevered under the conditions and won the marathon! Possibly it was her training in Michigan in inclimate weather that was instrumental in her win.
Early in the race, Desiree slowed down to help her friend Shalane who had to stop for a restroom break. “Honestly at mile 2, 3, 4, I didn’t feel like I was going to even make it to the finish line,” Desi said. “I told (fellow teammate) Shalane, “if there’s anything I can do to help you out, block the wind, adjust the pace, let me know because I might just drop out. When you work together, you never know what’s going to happen. Helping her helped me and kind of got my legs back from there.”
The human body is an amazing thing! I’m told your brain releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin when you help someone. According to Runner’s World magazine, these are great hormones to have during a race. Endorphins have a morphine-like way of reducing pain; dopamine increases motivation and focus, and serotonin boosts your mood. There seems to be little doubt this surge of hormones helped Linden turn the race around. Your brain releases oxytocin when you feel a bond with another person and this bond reminds you you’re not alone. Linden said, “Today was bigger than one person, it was really all of us pushing each other.”
Do you see the similarities? Doesn’t this sound like the Body of Christ helping each other? When one member suffers, we all suffer with them. Aren’t we called to help others to endure, shielding each other through difficult times and encouraging one another? “If one falls down, his friend can help him up,” Eccl. 4:9. And again, “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others,” Romans 12:5. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds……encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25.
The word “encourage” means to “put courage in.” How can we as believers give others courage to run the “race,” to live sanctified lives, meet for the Master’s use and glorify God? We are energized by hope, sustained by faith, with our eyes on the prize! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up,” Galatians 6:9. The Holy Spirit works through the scriptures to encourage us. Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures come alongside believers to help them run with joy! Don’t give up! Fix your eyes on the prize! Keep on keeping on for the glory of God!
Your friend, Jean