“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” ~ Hebrews 12:1 

Have you been watching?  Have you seen?  Paris Summer Olympics 2024!  Oh gosh, it has been so awesome to come home from Groundlings Camp (when our family isn’t driving all over to Scouts or Ballet or Hockey or whatever else we seem to get on the calendar), and turn on the OLYMPICS. 

I mean …

— the heated back and forth US v Australia swimmers. Cowbell anyone? 

— the Women’s Gymnastics team overcome a myriad of hurdles in recent years.

— the pride of the French when they earned their first gold medal!

To be in some tiny part … just one piece of this immense coming together of the world; to be, in some tiny way, one part of the larger global community …

It means something.

It teaches us all something.

And while as far as I know Jesus did not participate in the Olympics while on Earth, I do think that he would have made a BOMB member of the Men’s Gymnastic Team.  Like maybe on the rings?  I can see it!  Jesus was all about being together with God’s people.  He was part of a team throughout his life.  Yeah, I think Jesus would be pro-Olympics.  

Because … one of the things that makes the Olympics so powerful – so exciting and beloved – is that it invites us into a shared experience; a commonality; a touchstone.  And, Jesus prioritizes that very thing.  Yes, Jesus prioritizes community, and he teaches us the tenets of healthy community like humility, forgiveness, grace, and supporting and helping one another even when we don’t always understand or agree with each other.

The Bible verse from Hebrews is about this wisdom of Jesus.  It’s giving us one little piece of how we live our lives – together. The verse is a short teaching from the Apostle Paul (early founder of the church), and he is helping us to recognize that we are not alone.  As God’s people – as those who learn from the model of Jesus, we are never alone. Paul describes this as

“… a cloud of witnesses who run the race with us.”

In the cloud are people who surround us with love and support; people who cheer us on; people who form our community in life.

And, sometimes we are a witness in someone else’s cloud.

I guess maybe right now, I am in a REALLY big cloud cheering on other people across the world.  In these huge global games called the Olympics.

But everyday, in a much smaller and no less important way, I am called – we are called – to cheer on our community.

And everyday, we have a cloud of witnesses cheering us on and lifting us up.

Breathe deeply and know that you are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses supporting you.

Breathe deeply and know that you are supporting someone else – in their cloud.

#wisdomofJesus #wholenewmeaningofCLOUD