Bearing Burdens

I was at my daughter’s first horse show yesterday, but there was an undercurrent of excitement about the Ohio high school state track finals occurring at the same time.  A track coach from a local school was at the fairgrounds with us, and was receiving updates about his kids.  Our friends’ son was running, too.

This morning, I checked the results to see how our friend did, (he placed third in his division with a personal best for his time!), and I found this picture from www.thecourier.com :

 WEST LIBERTY-SALEM'S Meghan Vogel (right) helps Arlington's Arden McMath across the finish line during a 3,200-meter race at the Division III state Track and Field competition in Columbus. When McMath staggered and fell, Vogel picked her up and helped her across the finish line. Both girls received a standing ovation and hugs from the Arlington coach. (Photo by Kyle Hunter)

Meghan was dead last in the race, saw Arden fall, and went to her aid.  Meghan supported her through the rest of the race, and then hefted her across the finish line in front of herself before finishing the race.

When I showed the picture to my husband, he asked, “Why isn’t anyone else helping her?”  Simply put, because that would invalidate her race.  If someone had run onto the track to assist Arden, her efforts to finish would have been in vain, and she would have been disqualified.

But apparently, there are no rules surrounding the idea of fellow participants helping each other.

 Sure, people are making a big deal about this, but Meghan seems to think that it was what should be done.  And she’s right.  Because when your goal is not to beat other people, but to achieve your personal best, then your actions become different.

Looking back at the picture, you can see the pain in both of the girls’ faces.  You can see the muscles in Meghan’s arms working hard to support Arden’s dead weight.  You can see that the two are working together, that Arden has surrendered to the assistance, and is determined to fight through the pain.

Because we can’t forget Arden here, either.  She was tripping and falling, getting back up and continuing to run.  She could have given up, lay down, and waited for the EMTs to come get her.  But she persisted, and accepted help when it was offered.  And that’s an accomplishment, too.

We get so wrapped up in doing things on our own that we forget we were made to live in community; to bear one another’s burdens.  When a Christian brother stumbles or falls, do we race by, scorning his lack of piety, or do we lift him up?  Or when we ourselves stumble, do we reach out to our brothers and sisters for assistance?

Paul is very clear about this:

If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself.  You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.  Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed.  Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.  If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.  Galatians 6:1-3(emphasis mine)

To help and be helped is a hallmark of being a Christ-follower.  Are you sharing your burdens with faithful believers?  Are they sharing back?  If not, why not?

Sharing the burden may be difficult, but the resultant victory is sweeter to savor.  Just ask Meghan and Arden.