Dan Berry • January 21, 2025
Many of us learned long ago that life is more like a marathon than a sprint. While most of us may never actually run a 26.2-mile race, we can all relate to the concept of a marathon as a long, grueling challenge.
Life is filled with struggles, difficulties, and hardships. To overcome them, we need an essential quality…
Endurance
Endurance is defined as the capacity to last or withstand wear and tear. I like to think of it as the ability to keep going—to not give in or give up until the race or struggle is complete.
When the spotlight first turned on and we entered the arena of anti-racism work, I think it’s fair to say that many of us felt a surge of excitement about the possibility of being part of much-needed change.
But I doubt any of us fully anticipated the headwinds and hills we’d encounter along the way. Few of us wanted to think about the opposition or attacks that would come our way. When the race began, we simply embraced the work and ran forward, eager to do our part.
I may never fully understand the specific hills you’ve had to climb or the winds you’ve faced, but one thing is certain: to make a difference, we must tap into this thing called endurance.
We’ve all struggled to finish strong. It’s easy to quit or pull back, but in this work, your strength is needed. Whatever the hill looks like or the wind feels like, you can do this.
Know your “why”
Endurance is fueled by a clear understanding of purpose. Remind yourself why you joined this struggle in the first place. Return to that “why” and let it anchor you, keeping you from giving up. If you need to take a break, use that time to reflect and recharge, then lean back in with renewed determination.
Each time you choose not to quit, you grow stronger. It’s in that strength that endurance is built and sustained.
While it’s important to keep your eyes on the prize, don’t neglect the process. Pay attention to what you’re going through. Manage the challenges designed to knock you out of the race with wisdom. Marathons require thoughtful decisions along the way to stay in the game. Embrace moments of rest and opportunities to refuel, but don’t quit. Don’t walk away. This work isn’t just about the prize—it’s about all the people who need us to stay in the fight.
We believe in you and are here to encourage you. Every challenge you face might tempt you to quit, but we’re here to remind you: stay strong and keep going.
We’re forever grateful for every hill you climb and every headwind you overcome.
He has pastored for forty years in Iowa. After pastoring in predominantly white spaces for several years, he began to realize the need to bring about racial healing in the body of Christ. For the last 30 years he has worked to bridge ethnic and cultural divides, a work that has led him into confronting the churches complicity in upholding systems of racism.
Recent Comments