The Tour De France started last Saturday.  It is a grueling 3 week race that covers close to 2,000 miles on multiple stages ridden by 9 man teams.  The ultimate goal for each time is to have their strongest rider win the race at the end of the three weeks.  What every racer understands whether they are one of the stronger riders or one of the less experienced riders on the team is that you cannot survive the race without the help of the team, much less win it!

 

Teams work together by riding in a straight line called a paceline with each rider taking a turn in the front to cut through the headwind.  By doing so it allows those behind the lead rider to rest their legs.  Once each rider is rested they slowly return to the front of the line as other riders take their turn and drop off toward the back of the paceline to rest.  Every rider takes a turn pulling the paceline and the team is stronger because of this process.  It is a powerful image of teamwork that is a necessity to every rider's ability to stay in the race whether they are strong, weak, inexperienced or just having a bad day!

 

Our faith in Christ and membership in Christ's body, the church, is like that.  When we are strong we are glad to help pull others along while others rest, follow and grow stronger.  Yet, there is always a time we need others to pull us along so that the winds of life don't beat us down at full force no matter how strong they are.  That is the blessing of being part of the living body of Christ, the church.  With Christ at the head of the paceline that is the church we can always be encouraged and we can always know that the Spirit abides in strong headwinds, high mountain climbs and even the speedy descents that are all a part of our lives!

 

Enjoy your summer and thanks be to God for those who join us in the paceline of living the Christian life.

 

Grace and Peace to you all,

Nathan D. Stanton

Senior Pastor,

Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church