As an amateur cyclist (very amateur), I just love the Tour de France. For 21 Stages in just 23 days, 180 of the most highly conditioned athletes ride 2,200 miles through some of the most beautiful countryside and grueling mountains in the world. It’s considered the “Super Bowl” of cycling, and it’s arguably one of the most physically, mentally and spiritually demanding events in all of sports. The riders average over 100 miles each day and burn over 130,000 calories! And while most of us would find it hard to drive a car thru the Alps, just imagine trying to do it on a bike.
What I find most interesting about the Tour de France is that it is impossible to win it without the help of teammates. Each teammate depends on their unique strengths of speed, power, endurance and even climbing at various points of the race in order to propel the other to the front. In fact, when one rider drafts off the wheel of another, he can save up to 30 percent of his energy. And each member of the team takes turns leading the way and blocking the wind.
What a great picture of why, as believers in Christ, we need each other. We’re all part of the same team, yet we have different roles. In 1 Corinthians 12 we’re told that we’re all part of one body, but each one of us brings unique gifts and talents. Sometimes we get jealous when someone else is in the spotlight, especially if we did a lot of the work behind the scenes. But God wants us each to play our specific role—to use our unique gifts today to bless others. Today, embrace your role and understand that God is using you to bless your teammates and provide just what they (and you) need to win!
