No Man Left Behind

In April, at this year’s famed Boston Marathon, Northern Ireland runner Aaron Beggs had just rounded the corner to Boylston Street, the final stretch of the race when he spied another runner collapse from exhaustion. A moment later another competitor, Robson De Oliveira from Brazil, witnessed the collapsed runner, Ajay Haridasse, try to get up repeatedly only to have his legs give out from under him each time. Aaron Beggs was the first to make his move and selflessly put his own running ambitions to the side to aid this fellow runner. De Oliveira, sacrificing his personal best time, then joined in on the other side helping to hoist Haridasse to his feet. Together, holding Haridasse between them, the trio finished the final meters of the marathon.

What an incredible picture of unity, brotherhood and compassion! As I read the article detailing this event and stared at the photo of it, I couldn’t help but think that this is exactly how God intended Christ followers to act. Our life of faith has aptly been compared to an endurance race (1 Corinthians 9:24). Throughout his New Testament writings, the Apostle Paul, like a great running coach, encourages us to train hard, run with purpose and keep our eyes on the prize.

But not all marathon participants are able to keep up the pace with which they began the race. Some may be running on empty, at risk of collapsing and giving up before reaching the finish line. The church (the collective body of believers everywhere) has many Ajays who have spiritually hit a wall and they are unable to continue any further without intervention. This is where God puts some Aarons at the right place and time in the race, who are willing to forego their own agendas to humbly aid a fellow runner. When Aarons take the initiative to step up to assist fallen believers it encourages some Robsons to also get involved and working together they can help empower frail, fractured Christians to still finish well.

Peter bids us to “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind.” This is the spirit that Aaron Beggs so vividly displayed at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Aaron did not place first in the marathon but his sacrificial heroism makes him a true winner in the minds of many people.

We are not in this race alone. Will you be an Aaron to a worn out, wounded warrior who needs help to get back on his feet?

Lord Jesus, endow me with endurance so that I am able to run this race well to the end. But help me not to be so focused on my own goals that I am oblivious to the needs of my fellow runners. Give me a tender heart and humble spirit to willingly help and uphold others to complete their course. Amen

Consider This: During the entire marathon of our lives we may play the roles of all three men in this incident. At times we may be in need of others to come alongside and help us up. Other times we may be the one stopping and stooping to assist a fallen comrade or we may be the one who is spurred to help by the example of another who acts first.