Running together

A few years ago President Ferry and I ran the Sprouts Mesa Half Marathon. It was February in Arizona but it was unusually cool, and the race started at 6:00 a.m. While I was eager to run, part of me was wondering who thought this was a good idea.

Looking back I can now say that running that race was not only a good idea it was a great idea.

Since President Ferry meticulously tracks each race he runs, he could describe with greater detail and precision our pace, our splits, and how that race compared to many others he had run. But I remember this: We ran together for over 11 miles of it. He paced me at a speed I had not run before in a race. In the end, I finished with a personal record. His own time was his best in 20 years.

We have all been running a race— personally, professionally, relationally, societally—this past year. Many are tired of the extra demands, protocols, and restrictions due to COVID-19. Some would rather step out of the race. Within our Concordia University community, we face the unknown future of a leadership transition. How should we continue to run? Let us run like Concordians: Hearts together, with eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

We are people of hope. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. He is the Unchanging One (Hebrews 13:8), whose eyes have been fixed on us in love. Therefore, we run each unknown day with a sure and certain confidence because the victory has already been won in Jesus Christ.

REV. DR. RYAN PETERSON

Vice President of Administration
Chief Liaison to the Office of the President

The spring/summer 2021 Hearts Together magazine hit mailboxes in early April. View a PDF version of the magazine here. If you are not on our mailing list, but are interested in receiving a free copy, email Jennifer.Hackmann@cuaa.edu.