Running a marathon is all about finishing. How fast you run is less important than crossing the finish line. Everyone who crosses the finish line gets the same medal.
All runners at mile 20 are faced with the same problem. The body has reached its limit and something else needs to carry you through to the finish line. One of those things is social. Having at least one other person to run with can mean the difference between finishing and crawling to the curb and curling up in the fetal position at mile 24.
It does no good if there is a pack of runners two miles ahead of you or two miles behind. What is needed is at least a small pack or even one other runner at your shoulder, helping each other stay in the race at the pace that you need to run. If you try to keep with others that are running at a different pace, you may not cross the finish line. It would be improper to try and get those behind to run faster or those ahead to run slower. You have to run your pace, with a pack that is at a similar pace if you want to stay in the race.
I wonder if this is a valid metaphor for leaving a church. If you can't find a community that is sharing a similar journey, you may not be able to continue at the pace needed to finish.
That's why I am leaving Grace. I have found myself without a pack. I need to find some others that are at a similar pace. This says less about the other packs than it does about staying in the race.
I have a few fellow runners at this time, but am looking to enlarge the pack. I don't need much. One or two more, running a similar pace would have probably been enough for me to stay at Grace.
No comments:
Post a Comment