Some of you know that I like to run. When I first thought about being a runner I was very uncertain. I saw people running on the streets and more often than not, they were thin and graceful. I thought to myself, that`s not me… I'm not a greyhound. I`m more of a rhino.

But I kept following my interest because rhinos run too. I went to a running shop and was told that anyone can learn to run and even do a marathon – but you have to learn how to go the distance. You have to find your reasons, learn what to do and not to do, let others encourage you, and be patient as you put one foot in front of another.

So I became a marathon disciple – a learner – and it took some time. As the runs became longer, so did the training. My diet changed, I paid more attention to sleep and I carved out time in my life to run. In the winter I ran with spikes on my runners and wore a balaclava with chunks of ice in my eyebrows. I ran in hot humid weather and had salt crystals formed on my shirt and shorts from the perspiration. I`ve done face plants on snowy sidewalks, had encounters with dogs and wasps and was run into the ditch by a truck. Like the journey of life, running held surprises.

But without making time, choosing priorities and letting go of other things – I could never have gone the distance. I have watched people fall in the last 5k of marathons. They didn`t train well. They didn`t hydrate. They didn't eat right. I`ve seen them with attendants, on stretchers, writhing in pain. I`ve seen the ambulance pull away on the running course with the red light pulsing.

Whether a disciple of running or Jesus, there is a cost. How do we know if we are able to go the distance when it comes to faith journey with Christ?

Allegiance

Jesus speaks to the growing crowds of people near him. The Twelve are there as well as many that he has healed. There are families and singles, young and old, jokers and thinkers, the very religious and the non-religious, charlatans and pickpockets, reporters and spies. It was a mixed group to say the least.

He turns around and says “this is how it works…” And he speaks those shocking words about hating family members, taking up a cross and giving up all possessions. It is really important to understand what is being said here. Of course, Jesus who always calls us to love – even our enemies, is not demanding that we turn away in disgust from those we love the most. He is using hyperbole – a shocking way of getting our attention. He zeros in on our primary allegiance. Where is the source of all other love? It is with God. With him. It is right there in the first few words of the Bible itself, “In the beginning, God…” (Gen. 1:1). Matthew gives this a softer edge in his gospel where Jesus says, “whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than me… or does not take up his cross… is not worthy of me.” (Mt 10:37). The question here is about the primary allegiance of our life.

If the primary allegiance of our life is another person what will we do if that person dies or leaves or fails us. Where do we go? What do we do? This is always hard but if life's meaning depends upon a spouse or parent or child and the temporary nature of life strikes it can be shattering. Jesus says that when we love someone more than him, we cannot be his disciple. That is, we will not be able to follow because we have given too much away. We love because he loved us first – it starts with him.

If the primary allegiance of life is to be successful then the journey of serving others with unconditional love may be a hard cross to take up – whatever our calling in life. That was the cross of Jesus – loving people along the road regardless of their response. Our cross is to lay ourselves down and love others along the way. This is the ministry of a disciple -- whoever we are. You are a disciple as much as any pastor or priest whether you are retired, a volunteer, a student, teacher, retail person, fisherman, mechanic, or employment insurance recipient. You carry the cross of serving love as a Christian. That is what it means to be a disciple or learner of Jesus. Without it we may claim to be a disciple, but Jesus would say, "I don`t get it…you can`t be my disciple – a disciple has the cross." In Jesus' case it is the symbol of dying for others.

If the primary allegiance of life is to what we have, or what we are trying to get – a big paycheque, a big house, self-sufficiency, lots of stuff … the kind of stuff that 80% of those in the world don`t have – then all that stuff may take over our heart. That`s the danger. To be a disciple means to “detach” from stuff. It doesn't mean we don't have it, but that we give up its claim on us and get it out of our heart – so that possessions do not have us.

What are we trying to build?

Jesus adds a story about building a tower. It is important to think carefully about what we are doing so that we end up with what we want. If life is like that tower, what do we want out of it? What lasts? What has more than temporary value? Start with the love of Christ that will give us the strength, forgiveness and hope to build and not give up in life.

Do we need to reconsider?

The other story that Jesus tells is about meeting challenges in the future. Can you meet life head on the way you are going? Remember what I said about the last 5 k in the marathon? Are you going to go the distance? Will you crumble before the ravages of age? Will you find resources to cope with tragedy and the unexpected? Will you manage with the temporariness of life and the rapid passing of time? Will these challengers beat you? As I visit people I am often amazed at their stories. I`ve seen beautiful homes and families, treasured remembrances and pictures of loved ones. But when I visit in the lodges and nursing homes, so much downsizing has happened. I see there only a few things: a TV to pass the time, a dresser, a few pictures, some books or albums.

On a recent visit, one fellow had nothing on his walls but one small framed certificate with his name and recognition of retirement after 33 years with Canada Post. He showed me that and then the conversation turned to God. The temporary nature of life had its say and we were back to what is really important: Does God remember me? Always. Maybe it's time to get the priority back. It`s never too late.

The parable about the king raises the idea of rethinking how we are living life. Maybe we need to have a talk with the other king… the Lord himself. Maybe we need to reorganize the priorities of life. The only one who really knows is you.

Life is a journey. Maybe it is like a marathon distance. We are all in it. Christ is with us day by day, step by step. We walk. We run. We fall down. We get up. We sit off to the side. We start again.

But we are not racing. We are walking the distance through life. We are in that crowd too. We listen and want to be fit to follow.

What we hear is that a disciple

Has love that that starts with Jesus
Has a cross that is service to others
And can give up everything, even life