Midweek meditation

From The Upper Room, Aug 4, 2020  Laying Aside Every Weight
Vimbai Chizarura (Harare, Zimbabwe) 

Let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, 
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.        

                                                                      Hebrews 12:1-2 (NRSV)One morning as I prepared for work, I was trying to decide what to carry in my handbag and what to leave behind.  The issue was not the handbag’s capacity but its weight.  I wondered how many people would see me struggling with my handbag and not understand why I was dragging my feet early in the morning.  Another part of me thought that I could hide my struggle and carry the full bag, but it would eventually tire me.  
We have many weights to carry — family identity, job titles, responsibilities — and we have to carry them all in one body.  It might not show at first as we go through our days, but eventually we will grow weary.  The verse above reminds us that we can run with perseverance as we lay aside every weight and look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  We can rely on him to help us face every challenge before us.  We don’t have to do it alone.
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2020-08-04
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 One of the things we often do wrong is refuse to ask for help when our lives feel too heavy. We are most likely to turn away from God and each other when we need the connection the most. When we feel ignored or unloved, when we get depressed or lonely, we think reach out instead of turning in. Instead of why hasn’t anyone called me, the question should be why haven’t I called and cheered up anyone today? Jesus gave us each other, let us be the body of Christ.