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Lean on Me

I was sitting on our tour bus one afternoon watching a video of the 1998 Australian Eco-challenge. Every year, four-person teams from around the world compete in this international adventure. The teams are given a compass and several days to conquer unbelievable obstacles as they rappel down cliffs, hike, climb and canoe. It is absolutely critical that competitors rely on their teammates.

In the 1998 contest, a woman on the Japanese team injured her foot quite badly. The doctors said her team would have to quit because she was unable to walk. This was a shattering blow for them, particularly because the Japanese had never before finished an Eco-challenge. After some discussion, the team decided that rather than give up, they would carry her the rest of the way. My brothers and I watched in amazement as her teammates carried her across mountains and rough terrain for miles. They had a goal of finishing and were not about to give up.

As I watched this unfold, it brought tears to my eyes to realize how powerfully it relates to the Christian life. The body of Christ functions best when we rely on each other. It takes humility to rely on people, admit that we need help, and allow others to share our load. It also takes trust in them that they're not going to let us fall! I'm sure that the Japanese competitor would have preferred to walk on her own. Our natural human tendency is to be independent and try to handle everything alone. But that's not what life is all about—especially the Christian life.

We also need to be willing to carry one another's burdens. The Apostle Paul challenges us: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). Have you ever had a friend who was dealing with something difficult, but was afraid to tell you all about it? I have. In those situations, I have come to see that my biggest responsibility is to love my friends unconditionally and pray for them. I've realized that even though I can't carry all of their burdens, I can help shoulder the load.

I want to encourage you to commit your relationships to God, asking him to help you carry the load for your friends. Even if someone doesn't tell you what he or she is going through, be a faithful friend, express unconditional love, and most of all, pray! Who knows, there could come a time when you'll be in that same situation, when you might need to allow someone else to carry you. And, above all else, as we carry one another's burdens, we can be assured that our God is carrying us.

Copyright © 1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail clmag@CampusLife.net.
March/April 1999, Vol. 57, No. 8, Page 72

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