When you meet an old friend who's walked away from their faith, it hits hard. I had that happen recently with a buddy who was once all in for Jesus. It's never a sudden change, right? More like a slow fade that you don't even see happening. It's a wake-up call for all of us. Staying true to our faith journey requires constant effort and mindfulness.

Hebrews 12:1 from the New Living Translation says it well: "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us."

It's about staying vigilant and running our race with intention.