Even though I don’t run marathons any longer, this morning I gave back to the people, the race, and the city I love my serving as the co-chaplain at the religious service tent. It was a glorious day for the runners.

Here is the sermon I delivered at all of the services:

I have a great many thoughts as I share my message with you this morning. 

First, I am warmer than I have ever been before the NYC Marathon.  I can also read my message clearer because I have my reading glasses.  A jacket, a nice warm hat, gloves, glasses… all at the start of a marathon? 

Most are familiar with Paul’s second letter to Timothy, especially the part that reads, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

I have finished the race, my race, or my races.  My last marathon was last January, in Disney when I completed the Dopey Challenge.  I knew then that that race, my 27^th marathon, would be my last.  It had to end somewhere. 

And yet, I am still fired up today because I am with a collection of great people, including my son Alex who is running his first marathon, and the energy, the anticipation, the wonder, and the hope is electrifying.  You bring an enthusiasm that is nothing short of spectacular. 

Running a marathon, once, or many times, is a tremendous feat.  Running the New York City Marathon is something even more spectacular.  It is here that we come together as so many different peoples, all as one, to battle, to struggle, to fight, and to push ourselves to the finish. 

My daughter-in-law shared a passage from a message her rabbi gave last week at temple.  That message focused on Noah and the marathon and how he relates to all of you.

God told Noah to do something that most other people thought was crazy.  He told Noah to do something that took a tremendous amount of time, but one that would also have a tremendous payoff. 

Today you’ll be doing something that most other people think is crazy.  It took you a tremendous amount of time to train to be here today to battle against the streets, the hills, the bridges, and yourself – a task that will also have a tremendous payoff. 

God uses each of us to send messages and to teach through us, just as he did with Noah.

Today, you are doing something great, something laudable, something majestic, and something wonderful. You are among the special people that have the gifts of strength, endurance, perseverance, focus, energy, and more that most of the rest of the world is lacking. 

Those gifts came to you from God.  John 3:27 reads, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.”  Being here today is a gift to you from the Lord. 

It is my hope that you share this day’s experience with him – the good, the bad, the struggles, the joy.  The satisfaction.  The doubt.  The accomplishment. 

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he told then to pray in a quiet place, alone, and that God knows what you want before you even ask.  There will be times today when, surrounded by tens of thousands of cheering spectators, and hundreds of runners, to your right left and in front and in back of you that somehow you might feel alone.  You won’t be.  Jesus will be right there with you.  Let him know that you know that he’s there.

I began a practice many years ago now that I still employ, yes, I still run, that at a certain point every mile, I take the time to quietly recite The Lord’s Prayer.  It is my way of connecting with God even as I struggle.  And in my joy.  It’s my way of recognizing that every run is a gift from him to me.  It’s my way of telling God that I love Him and that I am glad he is with me.  I sometimes know that Jesus is running stride for stride with me.  (I sometimes wish that he ran a little faster so I can as well.)

God runs with me just as he runs with you.

As you run today, let God and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit be part of your journey.  They will help carry you forward.  They’ll let you know you’re not alone and you never will be. 

It’s easy to remember to ask for strength when we struggle, but as you’re flying across the miles, or down one of the bridges, or even limping across the finish line, don’t forget to let God be part of that joy. 

Ask for strength when you need it, but give thanks for the strength when you have it. 

In a few short hours, they might seem long, you’ll finish the New York City Marathon.  In a few short hours, you will be a champion.  You’ll be a champion today and forever more. 

No one will ever be able to take this victory from you.  It will a part of you forever. 

Just as God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are part of you forever. 

Tomorrow your names will be listed in the New York Times.  Your names will be etched forever on-line in the NYRR archives as a New York City Marathon finisher.

But there is more than just that, there’s a bigger payoff.  As it says in Luke 10:20, “Rejoice that your names are written in the book of life.”

Go with the strength of Christ and make the streets become alive with God’s love. 

God Bless you all. 

Amen.