Chris Bean

I was fortunate, healthy, and sufficiently motivated to run a marathon this past weekend. Being my third 26.2 mile event, I was finally able to enjoy the entire race and not just suffer through the last few hellish miles (as in my previous two marathons). Running that distance is quite a physical challenge but always seems to teach me spiritual, mental, and social lessons as well.

A group of friends we got to know during our short but meaningful time in Beavercreek/Dayton, OH were also running this race. And at the risk of imposing my own perspective on their running experience, I’d like to make a few observations which indicate some parallels between running marathons and living the life God intends for us.

This group of friends spent some time training together over the past few months. Whether through Facebook status updates, emails, or actual conversations with some of them…I was aware of their concerted effort to prepare for the grueling experience of marathoning. Just before the event I learned that Mike (pictured on the far right) was struggling with some pain/injury issues and had received a cortisone shot the week of the event to bring some relief. Apparently, an  IT band problem was putting his marathon goal in jeopardy.

I thought back to my first marathon in which I was dealing with Achilles tendonitis in both legs. During the final weeks before the event, I was unable to train according to my plan and knew accomplishing the 26.2 miles would be questionable as well as causing potential further injuries.

The first parallel I would draw your attention to is the sheer difficulty and pain of running a marathon and living a life of consequence. So many circumstances, trials, and painful experiences are out of our control and often leave us feeling somewhat helpless in the wake of life.

The other significant social & spiritual lesson I learned from observing this group of like-minded friends is that they encouraged, motivated, supported, and pulled each other through a difficult experience.  It’s one thing to experience pain, suffering, disappointment, and excruciatingly difficult challenges. But it’s much worse to experience those things ALONE! Although these friends ended up finishing the marathon at a few different times, there was always a concern for those who were still on the course. In fact, that concern moved from empathy to action as some of them went back to run with and lift Mike’s spirit, propelling him to the finish line.

As I look ahead and wonder about the relationships, challenges, and Kingdom opportunities, I am thoroughly thrilled at the possibility of creating this kind of community and mutual care among students at the University of Cincinnati. In an environment which presents so much academic, spiritual, emotional, and social pressure…authentic biblical relationships and teaching become the difference between a healthy and fit faith or a critically injured…perhaps dead faith.