This morning I took a long test at school and then headed over to cheer on the runners at the Boston Marathon. Boston is a fantastic place, in a sense, you can feel the energy when the city comes together for something. The whole town goes to the marathon so that every inch of the 26.2 miles has people on the sidelines cheering, handing out water, and giving high fives. I rode my bike down with a friend to a particular area along the course. It was a little after "heartbreak hill," where at mile 23, the runners have little left to give. We watched the runners come in, all grimacing knowing they had 3 miles left to go. It was an exceptionally warm day for Boston so many were limping and many even headed to the medical tent. Rough estimates were that 1,200 runners needed medical care today. As they passed, we called as many as we could by name. We would look on their bibs for clues or use what they were wearing so they knew we were cheering for them.
"Go Oregon"
"Keep going, Suzy."
"Finish strong, Army."
Then we saw more. One lady was pregnant and running strong. One was pushing their disabled family member in a wheelchair and running. One had an amputated leg and was running while carrying the American flag. I began to tear up.
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| To this man, you are my inspiration. That man is Staff Sgt. Jose Luis Sanchez, a Marine who lost the lower part of his left leg after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2011. |
I thought, "is this what Heaven in like?". Everyone is happy and cheering on those they love and even those they have never met? The feeling there at one of the toughest areas of the race was one of hope. It was tough, they were overheated, and they were in pain, but they kept going, under all circumstances.
We later biked down to the finish line. I stood exactly where four years ago a tragedy occurred, and lives were lost to terrorism, which was a humbling experience. At the finish line, many runners were helping each other through the end- holding hands, lifting each other up, crying together. All raised their hands in the air towards the heavens as they stumbled through the finish line with a smile on their face.
I couldn't help but think that wherever we are in the race of life, there are many unseen people cheering for us on the other side of the veil.
"Go Andrew, finish strong."
"Keep going Emily; you can go on another first date."
"Hang in there Barry; you can finish your book."
So whenever you feel down, remember that there are concourses of angels cheering us on and that Christ cheers on every runner.
"He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, 'robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.' May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize is my earnest prayer" (The Prodigal Son, Elder Holland)
Myself, along with many others, left the race track today feeling profoundly inspired. If the "average joes," the pregnant, the disabled, and the weary could finish the race, so can we. We might need to lean on someone, be carried, or stop for healing but we can do it. Hope that we can always cheer each other on and hear the cheering from the other side of the veil to endure to the end.
We cheer from the windows of our houses
