On February 14, 2009 a group of very ambitious men and women will be competing in the 26th running of the Yukon Quest. The annual 1000-mile race, known as the “toughest race on earth”, will be starting in Whitehorse this winter and finishing in Fairbanks, Alaska. Already there are 40 mushers signed up for the bone chilling adventure. While some of us wonder why anyone would put themselves through such an ordeal, one musher has not only competed once or twice, he’s competed 24 times in the race’s 25 year history. If anyone is a veteran of the race, it’s the Yukon’s Frank Turner. To compete at that level takes an extreme level of devotion. The Yukon Quest isn’t for your Sunday afternoon dog musher. Research has shown that it takes eight-to-twelve years of training for a talented player/athlete to reach elite levels. This is called the ten-year or 10,000 hour rule, which translates to slightly more than three hours of practice daily for ten years. Simply put, the 10,000 Hour Rule says no one gets to the top of their field unless they log at least 10,000 hours of practice. That’s right - 10,000 hours! Can you imagine 10,000 hours behind teams of dogs? You got to love dogs to do it!
Dedication is one necessity; another necessity for Yukon Quest success is teamwork. Frank Turner puts it best; “In the Yukon Quest race we live by the team: it’s all about the team. There’s no I or me, it’s only we and us.”
I’m no dog musher, but I do know that a team of dogs going in different directions won’t get anywhere fast. The dogs not only need to work hard, they need to work together. For a successful run of the Yukon Quest you will need to dedicate ample amounts of time and have unparalleled teamwork.
Interestingly, these two necessities (time and teamwork) were identified as key factors in the growth of the early church (see Acts 2:42-46). They are also two of the greatest challenges the church faces today. In Jesus’ prayer (John 17:11) He prays, “Protect them by the power of your name… that they may be one as we are one”. Unity doesn’t just happen on it’s own. At times it is a lot of hard work. It means putting the interests of others before myself. This is not something easy, sometimes it seems impossible. Maybe it takes 10,000 hours of practice (in which case I’m sure I have at least another 9,000 hours of practice to go). But I do know that Satan thrives on creating discord within the church and for that reason we must always be on our guard against it.
As I mentioned last Sunday from the pulpit, we do have a church were there is good teamwork. Where there is a need, people respond, almost always without being asked. I not only see this myself, others who visit this church see it as well—and they tell me about it.
I thank God for such a church. Unity and teamwork are the greatest “gifts” you can give your pastors, and you’re giving it throughout the year.
On behalf of Megan, Clayton and myself, let me thank you for this gift and encourage you to continue working together as the Body of Christ because in the end, it’s not about “I or me”, and it’s not even about “us”; it’s all about Him. To Him be the glory.
Dedication is one necessity; another necessity for Yukon Quest success is teamwork. Frank Turner puts it best; “In the Yukon Quest race we live by the team: it’s all about the team. There’s no I or me, it’s only we and us.”
I’m no dog musher, but I do know that a team of dogs going in different directions won’t get anywhere fast. The dogs not only need to work hard, they need to work together. For a successful run of the Yukon Quest you will need to dedicate ample amounts of time and have unparalleled teamwork.
Interestingly, these two necessities (time and teamwork) were identified as key factors in the growth of the early church (see Acts 2:42-46). They are also two of the greatest challenges the church faces today. In Jesus’ prayer (John 17:11) He prays, “Protect them by the power of your name… that they may be one as we are one”. Unity doesn’t just happen on it’s own. At times it is a lot of hard work. It means putting the interests of others before myself. This is not something easy, sometimes it seems impossible. Maybe it takes 10,000 hours of practice (in which case I’m sure I have at least another 9,000 hours of practice to go). But I do know that Satan thrives on creating discord within the church and for that reason we must always be on our guard against it.
As I mentioned last Sunday from the pulpit, we do have a church were there is good teamwork. Where there is a need, people respond, almost always without being asked. I not only see this myself, others who visit this church see it as well—and they tell me about it.
I thank God for such a church. Unity and teamwork are the greatest “gifts” you can give your pastors, and you’re giving it throughout the year.
On behalf of Megan, Clayton and myself, let me thank you for this gift and encourage you to continue working together as the Body of Christ because in the end, it’s not about “I or me”, and it’s not even about “us”; it’s all about Him. To Him be the glory.
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