Have you ever watched a group of people in a CrossFit gym simultaneously build strength by connecting their bodies? Picture this stunt: One person is the standing strong base. She is holding the feet of a person doing a plank. This person has someone else on her back doing a plank with her knees resting on the shoulders of the base person. Now, a third person is on top, also doing a plank with a fifth person holding her ankles above the base person. Each one is helping hold this stunt together and then a few seconds later they collapse in laughter! I was told that they were “goofing off,” but I think they were helping each other gain strength in muscle and in community! Surely one or all of the people in this stunt have troubles, but when they are “goofing off,” their troubles must feel lighter. Through their time together, they have built a strong base to hold each other up in their troubles even when they are not in the gym, too. What a combination! They build strength and love for each other in their fitness community.

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In Mark 2:1-12, four friends carry their paralyzed friend to Jesus so that Jesus can heal him. The house is very crowded by people listening to Jesus, so the friends must lower him through the roof to Jesus to be healed. What commitment to their friend! This is an incredible story, giving us an example of strength and cooperation amongst a group of friends who help and love each other. There are others, like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35) who cared for the wounds of a badly injured man and then put him on his donkey to take him to an inn to care for him.  

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Not that any of these feats are physically easy, but by helping each other, their feats are made easier, and they obeyed the law of Christ. His command is to love one another as He loves us, so that we reflect His love to others (John 13:34-35). What a great exchange!  Most people have a natural desire to help others, so just by helping each other we will show love to Christians and those seeking Christ.  

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As we prepare for Impact Alaska this weekend, ACF and other churches will have many opportunities to put Galatians 6:2 into action! Changing oil at no cost helps many financially; cleaning up yards helps people physically, and building a bed helps someone experience rest and safety! There are many more projects to check out at Impact Alaska. I hope you sign up to give love and to allow your heart to be filled with love from others!

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We are called to live a life like this, not just one day, but every day! We can come alongside a struggling friend to help shoulder the weight of their troubles. We do not need to shoulder the whole weight of their troubles, but we can help to lighten the load. We also need to accept help and love others when we need it. Maybe you had enough strength yesterday to help others, but today you find yourself weak and unable to help, so others help you! We can build strong community through helping, accepting help, and loving others.

Many translations of today’s verse begin with “Bear one another’s burdens,” or “Carry one another’s burdens” which may be more familiar to you. When I think about bearing or carrying someone else’s burdens, it feels heavy to me, but “helping each other with troubles” is light enough for me to lift. There is power in helping others and doing life together!

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How can we do life together to help others and reflect His love?  

• Find your own Fitness Community

• Explore Alaska with a friend on foot or with wheels

• Host a summer book club  

• Gather the kids in your neighborhood for a play group

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We all have different skills and talents that we can tap into to help others. Let’s build strong communities to help others, because when we help others, we also reflect Christ’s love!