OVER the past couple of weeks I’ve been watching the highlights every night of the Tour De France – the worlds most gruelling and challenging bike race. 

Over 170 professional cyclists begin the race but many of them drop out through injury or fatigue as they race up mountains, over cobblestones, through valleys and the beautiful scenery and countryside of France.

Watching the race unfold each night I have become aware of how what the cyclists go through each day is like a picture of our lives.

Sometimes life seems easy and it’s as though we are cycling along a flat road or going downhill with not a care in the world.

At other times it feels like we have so many problems and obstacles to overcome that it feels like we are always going uphill and life seems difficult and like hard work!

Life is full of highs and lows; that’s just the way it is.

The cyclists in the Tour de France have many people around them in their team to encourage, support, direct, guide, feed and massage them every day!

Who have you got around you in your life that will help you navigate your way through?

I’m thankful for my church family because when the church is at its best every person who belongs has a part to play in both giving and receiving.

The Apostle Paul said “You are the body of Christ and each one is a part of it”.

Like the teams in the Tour de France each person in the church has a role to play.

Each cyclist knows what their role on their team is.

Do you know what yours is in your church?

If you don’t then spend some time chatting with your church leader about where you can best serve so that your “team” is as strong as it can be and so that together you reach the finishing line having given your best.

Enjoy the journey.

REVD BOB MORRIS
Youth and Children’s Pastor
Cirencester Baptist Church