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Kasey loves to run. More than that, she loves to sprint. One of her favorite pastimes is to go to the schoolyard across the street and run, run, run. She runs like a greyhound, and when she goes by, it's like the thunder of horses. She is a natural athlete who loves to run.

Annie, on the other hand, has not always been a runner. In fact, for a time, she didn't even like going to the school yard. You see, Annie loves to play and wrestle--and for the most part, Kasey is very patient when Annie is knawing on her. However, the schoolyard was Kasey's domain--the place she ruled. She could sprint away, and Annie didn't have a chance at catching her. Even more so, Kasey would take a running start and plow into Annie. One night, Annie up and decided to go home! She just didn't like the schoolyard.

Note that I've been writing in the past tense--because over time, things changed. Annie began to run faster. She began to catch up to Kasey. She began to hold her own…and, in time, soon it was Kasey who couldn't outrun Annie! Annie wasn't a natural athlete like Kasey, but months of running after Kasey had trained her--she became a faster, more athletic dog for having been around Kasey.

The Bible says that we have a certain influence on others--"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). We sharpen each other. We become stronger in our faith by challenging one another, holding one another accountable, and encouraging one another.

Who challenges you to grow in your faith? Who helps you grow in your faith? Who sharpens you? Maybe it's something to think about.

In Christ,

--Pastor Dan