Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…(Hebrews 12:1-2a, NRSV)
If your palms are a little sweaty today, you’re not alone. I’ve heard many people say to me in recent weeks how nervous they are about Nov. 3 and it’s understandable with so much hinging on this election. There are various ways people seem to be coping, but one is obsessive checking of the web site, FiveThirtyEight, which provides data and poll analysis on various things, but is mostly known for its political coverage. (For what it’s worth, it currently says there’s a 90% chance that Biden will win).
What is your go-to when feeling anxious these days? One thing that’s helped me recently is commemorating today, Nov. 1, All Saints Day. In the church, we remember it as a time to give thanks and lift up those who have gone before us in the faith. This passage from Hebrews is one of my favorites when doing so. I find it very helpful to think about the cloud of witnesses in my life, both those I’ve known (family members, church friends) and those I haven’t (writers I’ve cherished, activists that have inspired me). Who are part of your cloud of witnesses? Who has inspired you?
I draw on these saints often to give me the courage to make it through difficult times and direction to make it through the unknown. I imagine them surrounding and encouraging me and find that it grounds me more than constantly refreshing political web sites. I certainly can’t control what happens on Tuesday, but I can rest in those who have gone before me and who have finished their race. As I remember and look back, however, I can’t forget to look forward. That’s what the author of Hebrews encourages, too. Run the race ahead of you, looking to Jesus…
Our family vacationed with another family in August in an Appalachian section of Kentucky. Among the many outdoor activities we engaged in was a long hike one warm afternoon. The trail wasn’t marked very well and we found ourselves backtracking and wondering if we’d ever get out of this forest. We got to one point where we were able to look across a clearing and see where our cars were parked, but there wasn’t an obvious way to get there. It was a frustrating feeling because we were hot and tired and confused. Thankfully, not long after we pondered our options, we heard a couple hiking below us. We yelled down to them, asking if they had any idea how we could make it back to the start of the path. They did. “We just came from there,” they shouted helpfully and their directions saved us.
How powerful it is to depend on the wisdom of those who “came from there.” We have saints in our lives who have gone ahead of us. Let us remember them today, all the while looking to Jesus so we know where to go next.