The miles of steep climbs were passing by like speed bumps. The surplus of downhills ahead of me foreshadowed a strong finish. Then, just over halfway through the marathon, I felt a twinge in my right achilles.

Years ago, at a denominational gathering, I heard a visitor from the global South say the following about North American Christians: They have so many things. They don’t need anything. Yet it seemed like the people were very thirsty, like they were in a desert and we were bringing them drops of water. These words refuse to leave me.