(Hebrews 10:14-25; Mk 13:1-8) J G White

10:30 am, Sunday, Nov 17, 2024, FBC Amherst

I have been ready for months to offer a talk about the blessings of being a Strider, part of the running and walking ‘club.’ I knew it was time when I read from Hebrews chapter 10 this week. This part of the Bible, called Hebrews, is really like one long sermon, addressed at first to some tired, discouraged people who were trying to follow Jesus in life. Keep going! Remember where your strength comes from! You all belong! Etc. This is the sort of stuff I hear in Hebrews, and among the Amherst Striders. So today, my Top Ten Lessons from the Amherst Striders:

ONE: ‘Everyone’ Is Welcome, Everyone Can Belong

There are exceptions: I believe there is an exception to everything. Including what I just said. ;) I know that not every person can run or walk. But the Striders is a loosely organized group for runners and walkers of various speeds and abilities. It is not tailored for the swift. It is suited to the slower, the beginner, and the shy. And we make you feel welcome.

Congregations for spirituality also know this. At least, we sing “All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.” We do have improvements to make about other ways we are actually welcoming. We could say that any person can be confident to enter the sanctuary because of Jesus. “By the blood of Jesus” Hebrews 10 says, not by our own blood, sweat and tears. You are welcomed in.

TWO: Give Encouraging Words

About twenty-three months ago, I bravely came out for a Monday evening and joined these ‘Striders’ for a one hour run. The August before, on my own, I had run a bit, and got up to running ten kilometers – twice. Then, I did not run again, until January. Ya know what I remember from that first run with the Striders, and the next few? The encouraging words of Myrna, and Ken, and the others. ‘Good run! Keep at it! Well done!’

It was lies like that that kept me coming back for more punishment! ;) Seriously, there is important power in encouragement. I knew right away that I was welcome, and how this group was doing things was intended to include a beginner like me. I love this phrase from Hebrews 10 in the Bible: Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. The ‘let us consider’ part is about intention. We make our minds up to work on it, to figure out how to prompt the goodness in other people.

I wonder what a Church, a congregation of people, could learn from the Striders about encouraging words. “So good to worship with you!” “Good singing along today!” “Thanks for praying this week.” “Great work with the Spirit of Jesus at our committee meeting.”

THREE: Loop Back

A vital way a group out for a one hour run includes slower people is by looping back. The bunch up ahead, turns around and goes back to where the last runners are. So we are all together again. When we get spread out again along the road, those in front, and in the middle, loop back again. The speedier ones keep up their pace, and actually get more distance. The slower and slowest get to stay with the group, on the same route, and finish together.

This is a ‘how to’ for runners; a how to provoke good running together, and good running culture. So it is with other categories in our lives, such as how we tend to our spirituality, and bless one another. Once in a while, Baptist Christians might need to loop back to stay with others in their own moment of the soul, be it a time of discouragement, depression, trauma, pain, or confusion. I always rejoice when I see someone loop back to accompany someone else.

FOUR: There Is No Bad Weather, Only Poor Clothing

The Striders know this, but I first learned it from another group, the Fundy Erratics. That’s a hiking group centred in Digby. In the last decade I learned that people can hike in January and February, or in the rain of November. Not to mention run in all weather. There are ways of dressing and being prepared. All things are possible!

Those words we heard from Hebrews in the Bible were rather technical: lots of old Jewish theology and history tied up in that stuff about priests and sacrifices and covenants and all. Hopefully we get the drift with words like since we have confidence... let us enter... let us approach with a true heart... Let us hold fast to... our hope... Our religion has resilience training for us. Sometimes it even speaks of armour we can wear, including: what’s true, what’s right, good news of peace, faith, salvation, scripture. Training to use all this is so helpful.

Speaking of that, FIVE: It’s All In the Training

I stole that phrase from a friend in Parrsboro. And the idea from the Christian thinker, Dallas Willard. And from the example of the Striders. Training, training, training.

I know Yoda said to Luke Skywalker, “Do or do not; there is no try.” And maybe that was good Jedi wisdom. We don’t just try to accomplish a personal goal. We do something. We do things to prepare us, to train us. Sometimes we start small and work our way up. Sometimes we train with one activity that makes us ready to do something rather different.

I think, in Churches today, we need to develop more training programs for our spiritual goals. Prayer – there is so much to explore here, so many little steps we could take together to train. Generosity – what training could we use, making life more simple, frugal, kind, un-attached to stuff? Hope – in a discouraging day and age, what practices (practice makes perfect) can we offer to one another to claim hope?

SIX: Inspire One Another; Learn From One Another

I have only become a runner now, at this stage of life, because of other people. They (you) inspire me. You have taught me everything I know! Like some of the training which is stretching, before and after running. There is a stretch called ‘the pigeon’ that I have not quite taken to yet; maybe later. ;)

So it is in my own spiritual and religious life. I have hung around with so many people who are, as scripture says, like little clay pots that hold a beautiful treasure inside! Let us be committed to hanging out together, and discover the treasures each other holds. Share the inner treasure.

SEVEN: You Can Do More Than You Realized

The human body and the human spirit have limits. I remember so well the exhilarating experience of climbing Gros Morne in Newfoundland, seventeen years ago. I enjoyed the hike up that tallest hill in Newfoundland, on a beautiful day. Near the top, the steepest climb happens: one foot after another, up a rocky, steep slope. I found I could take a coupe more steps up, then take a break for half a minute, then a few more steps, then pant and break. Not being athletic, I truly felt the limits of my capabilities. And it was worth it. Learning what I could do, if I took the time.

And more is possible. Like, running a half marathon. I’d never done anything approaching that until this year. This year of my life. More is possible than I’d ever considered.

So it is with the things I preach. More is possible in our inner lives, and in how we do good for others in this world. How we do good for the whole word. More is possible in you, and you, and every other person.

EIGHT: Run Your Own Way, With Your Own Peeps

So, you join the Amherst Striders. Does this mean you must run or walk with others on Mondays at 6 pm, Wednesdays at 6 pm, and/or Saturdays at 8 am? No! There are lots of other moments that people run or walk together. Little groups that have their own habits, their own schedule, their own locations, their own speed and distances. They are still cheered on as Striders. Not to mention many folks who get out there, striding, on their own, solo.

Once upon a time, Jesus’ twelve closest disciples were travelling the countryside with Him, and discovered some other person setting people free from evil power ‘in the name of Jesus.’ John tried to stop them. But Jesus said, ‘No, don’t stop them. Whoever is not against us is for us.’ (Mark 9:40)

NINE: Everyone Gets a Medal

As you saw, I brought some of my own medals and awards today. How did I get them? How many runs did I place first in? Or second? Or third? Hmmm. None, not one. [Here, this one, the Lily Lake Lollygag, I am quite sure I got last place in the 10k. J Because, at the finish line, they were already talking and giving out the awards! How did I get these medals?] Everyone gets a medal.

We provoke one other to do good deeds, to do well at the race of life. There are many ways we give medals, awards, congratulations, kudos, props, encouragement. And we can give these to every – single – participant in life. The New Testament speaks of encouragement as a spiritual gift. Seek to have this encouragement flow through you to as many others as possible.

TEN: Welcome People Back

Someone used to be a runner. Used to come out and run or walk with others here in town. But they got out of the habit. Maybe they made some bad habits. Or, they had an injury that disrupted their activity. Months go by; maybe years. Then, then they show up. Starting again, they might be slower or shorter in distance. Nevertheless, “Welcome back! It is so good to see you back with us!” That’s the Strider way; that’s the attitude. I hear it in the talk among the folks who have been here longer than I have. They talk about people they know getting back into the swing of things – positively, happily. Striding again.

I guess we could say, ‘once a Strider, always a Strider.’ There is, in the history of Baptists and other Evangelicals, the saying, ‘once saved, always saved.’ I don’t actually plant my feet in the theological tradition that has said that, but the larger principle is good. ‘You were welcomed in? We will welcome you back.’

We have just spent almost an hour inside a grand, stone building, where very little walking and running happens. (But there is line dancing!) Like those disciples who entered their Temple, with Jesus, long ago, we may have wondered how long this will last. What happens next in faith, in society, in our own lives. ‘Keep calm,’ I think Jesus would say. ‘Don’t panic.’ Our role is to provoke one another to be loving, and to accomplish good. May you make great strides to do so.