The Guide

 Like many in this lockdown, I have been watching the Paralympics. Marvelling at how men and women have overcome limitations and difficulties to bring the same disciplines, co-ordination, and competitiveness to the sports arena.  It has been compelling viewing. 

The image that most connected with me, however, is that of the runners with sight impairment competing with their guides. What impressed me is how the guides disciplined themselves to assist and run at the same pace as those they are looking after. They are truly their eyes but they do it in such away as their athlete gets the glory. They restrain their pace to match theirs – step by step and they hang back just as the runner crosses the line.  They train as hard, they endure as much, they no doubt experience the same nerves and maybe have another dimension of nervousness on them – they don’t want to stuff up and let their runner down!  What a great illustration of humility and servanthood.  I love how the runner often turned round and embraced their guide at the finish. They know they cannot compete without them. It’s a shared moment of victory – only their guide really knows what they have done and experienced. The relationship between runner and guide must be very close – they train together, they run together day in and day out and are tied together. In these Paralympics, one of the guides dropped to their knee and proposed to their runner at the finish line!!. 

 What a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit, who runs beside us as our guide – stride for stride, encouraging us on, seeing for us, enduring with us, sharing the pain and yet allows us to “get the glory”. He empowers us to be more than we can be on our own. The Bible uses the title “The Comforter” to describe the Holy Spirit. And, that intimacy we caught a glimpse of between the runner and their guide of mutual respect, gratitude and friendship – that too is encompassed in the indwelling Spirit of God.  

One final thought: The writer of Hebrews used the image of the marathon and the stadium in chapter 12 to encourage the Christians to keep running and that there was a crowd cheering them on. I have always seen that image as a lone runner coming into the stadium, but watching the Paralympics, it's two runners coming into the stadium - the athlete and their guide.  No wonder, Jesus said he would send the Holy Spirit, the comforter, the guide to be with us when he left. He knew we would need help.  We don't run this race alone!  Our guide runs with us all the way.  So hang in there!  We have a wonderful guide running with us.

The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over (run alongside) him,
the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding.
The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength,
the Spirit that instils knowledge and Fear-of-God. - Isaiah 11:2 (MSG)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all – 2 Corinthians 13:14