Run the Race

From Intern Beth…

Over this past year, I’ve spent time exploring things to do here in Indiana, jumping into traditions at the church and exploring different opportunities throughout the state. As I’ve done so I have experienced the work of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and love of the community of Christ. As I have shared some of those experiences with you all, I have another, but you need to stick with me for it because it goes beyond being an Indiana tradition. 

One of my mom’s favorite stories to tell others about me is from the first time my family watched the movie Secretariat together and I, not fully knowing the story, leaned over to her as the movie set it up for him to run the final race and whispered to my mom “I hope he wins.” While that was a moment of complete child-like wonder and innocence, it has become a favorite family story to tell. To this day, I continue to be fascinated and experience wonder at the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races. I think what continues to draw me in to this tradition is all the training and anticipation, the preparation and intensity that goes into “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” The day of the race itself is filled with its own traditions and rituals that generations of families and people have shared together. But the time leading up to race day is filled with training and preparation all done with incredible discipline. 

As I reflected on that, and invite you to do the same, I think in many ways the Derby mirrors our own faith journeys. We have these big days in our faith, like our baptism and first communion and confirmation, where we celebrate using traditions passed down through generations and those might be days where we feel God closer to us in our faith. But the majority of our journey is done behind the scenes; through everyday moments of living the life God calls us into, the quiet times we spend reading and reflecting on scripture, on the self-discipline we have to learn and grow in our faith. We don’t do this as a race against one another, or as a way to get the most fame or wealth or recognition as we live out our faith. Paul write us in his second letter to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 

Being so close to Louisville while here, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go explore Churchill Downs. I can say walking through the museum and touring the racetrack, that same sense of wonder came over me again. I invite you all to go out in faith, carrying that childlike wonder to fight the good fight, to run the race, to keep your faith.