I wanna tell you something. I did a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if it was a good idea or not, but if, if you have been part of our church for a while, you know, last year I, I got into the, the habits or really a discipline for me of, of running. And I don't know why because I hate running, but I made a personal goal during one of my coaching conversations with Sean, our lead passer was just up here and I think it's, cuz I, I didn't have one in the meeting. And so he was like, you know, what's a personal goal. And I was like running, you know? And so I, last year I did a 5k. Then I did a 10 K and so a couple of weeks ago, guys, it's crazy.
A couple weeks ago, I signed up for a half marathon. I'm gonna run this year and don't clap yet cuz you, I don't know if I'm gonna make it. Because the, the farthest I've ever run so far in my running career is 6.1 miles. That's the farthest I've ever run or, or 6.2 miles. And a half marathon is 13.1 miles, 13.1 miles. And so I'm gonna be running of that race in, in October. I'm excited, I'm nervous, but it's a good challenge for me physically. It's a good challenge mentally. It it's a good challenge. But you just know 13.1 is gonna be more difficult than 6.2. And running long distances. You just know it. I mean, it's just tough. It just, you know, running a long distance. Isn't the easiest thing to do. So I'm just curious, both campuses participate here.
How many of you have ever run a half marathon? How many? Okay. All right. So at Fred, let's just say there's 20 or 25 of you. That's probably more than what I thought. How many of you have ever run a full marathon? Okay. Wow. Way more than I thought here. Fred. Wow. Good job guys. Okay. Yeah. Well done. You statistically speaking in, in America only about a half percent, a half percent of our country has ever started and finished marathon. And, and the reason why that number is so low is because running 26 miles is tough. It's not easy. And here's one we think about, if I just said to you this morning, guys, I'm gonna be running a half, you know, in October. And I could really use your help. How many of you would be willing to come out and cheer me on at the race?
So I'm gonna need some of you at the start line. I'm gonna need some of you like halfway point. And then I want, I'm gonna need some of you like that last half mile. Some of you like me enough. And, and you've got some time, you'd be like, you know what? Yeah, we could do that. You know, and my race is gonna be from Fort Collins to Loveland. So you might be like, you know, okay, we could take 30 minutes, drive up there. We could cheer Matt on for 10 minutes, you know, and then get back in the car and get back with our day. Not, not too crazy, but what if I got up here and I was like, Hey guys, I'm gonna be running this half. And here's what I need from you. I need some of you to run it with me.
Now, all of a sudden you don't have free time. You're like, what's the date? And I'm like, October 1st, you're like book something for October 1st. You know, all of a sudden you're not quite as available. And the reason why, and come on, we get this kind of common sense because you know, the level of commitment is different from watching a half to running a half. You know, the pain is different from watching somebody else run a half and you running a half. And here's what I'd argue. And the context of your relationship with Jesus is very similar. Following Jesus is much different than just spectating him. Following him will be much more painful than just watching other people follow him. It's not always easy. I love what Jeff said. You know, the, it's not about the easy life. It's about the meaningful life. Really what we're saying is, you know, if it's not about easy, then it's a little bit more about being harder, more difficult, more strenuous.
There's something healthy though in that tension. So if you ever Bible's Matthew chapter five, we're gonna finish up our se
