Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path….Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:1-2, NLT

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“We’ll finish it together.” – Jim Redmond (to his son Derek)

In 1988, he was chasing Olympic gold when an Achilles tear forced him to drop out of the games. He vigorously pursued a comeback and won the opportunity to compete in the 1992 games in Barcelona. He had made it to the semifinals of the 400-meter race, eyeing a place in the finals, readying himself for a medal, should he qualify. 

As the race began, he was running strong until the unthinkable happened: he crashed to the track,  writhing in pain, crippled by a severed hamstring. There would be no Olympic medal.

The crowd was shocked, as was Derek Redmond, who lay sobbing in agony as the other runners finished the race. However, that’s not the end of this heart-wrenching story, because Derek and his father turned his personal misfortune into an unforgettable Olympic moment.

Through incredible determination, Derek pulled himself up and began hobbling on one leg towards the finish line, displaying the indomitable spirit of a world-class athlete. 

As electrifying as Derek’s effort was, it was made even more electrifying when his father left the stands and pushed past security to join his injured son on the track, telling Derek that he didn’t have to go on. When Derek insisted on finishing, that’s when Jim said, “We’ll finish it together.” And so, they did.

Though Derek did not win a medal that day, father and son won a place in the hearts of the world through their united effort to complete the race.

At some point in time, it happens to all of us. We’re running along at full speed; life is going our way as we anticipate the good things ahead—and then we stumble and fall. Sometimes we crash because of our own choices; at other times we collapse because of external circumstances.

Regardless, we take a dive. The future doesn’t unfold as we had planned. Our hopes are dashed. We are forlorn in our misfortune…until…along comes a brother or sister to aid us in our time of need, to gently and humbly help us back onto the right path, to share our burden while loving us with the love of Jesus.

Perhaps you’ve been there. I have. Many, many times. And I am eternally grateful for every person who has come alongside me in my distress and despair to kindly whisper Jim Redmond’s words, “We’ll finish it together.” Praise God for such grand and gracious people.

As you carefully survey your circles, maybe there’s someone in your life who’s had a “crash” of some kind: addiction, divorce, abuse, abandonment, loss of a job, bankruptcy, a public humiliation, a crippling diagnosis, or the death of a loved one. Could it be that God is calling you to come alongside the one who is struggling to lend a helping hand, to offer a shoulder to cry on, or to accompany them to the finish line?

Go for it. Push through the crowd and the security line to get to the one who needs you. Do so gently and humbly. Share their burden. Most of all, love them with the love of Jesus.

They’ll be better for it—and so will you.

A fellow beggar along the Way,

Greg