Hebrews 12:1-2

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:1-2


So... :)  First of all about the cloud of witnesses. :)  Kind of cool imagery... talking about the prophets and saints that have gone before... maybe they are hanging out in a cloud and watching us. :)  Also... everything around us points to God.  It's so obvious to me, in the sky every day, in nature, in the world and the people around me... that sometimes I get thrown back into reality abruptly when someone creates an atmosphere where God is in doubt.  At work it happened a few weeks ago... and just last Tuesday in class.  Someone looks at you like you are insane believing in God, and you step back for a second... but God IS reality.  In our context during the test of life, there are a lot of things that will try to obscure that reality... but it's true.  The test isn't pointless... it will be graded. :)
Anyway, the rest is awesome too... let us lay aside every weight.  So many times living righteously can seem like a burden... but when you climb out of sin, you realize that the sin was the actual burden, and your whole life is lightened and easier to bear.  And run with patience. :)  That's the trick, isn't it?  But Christ, our eternal example... he saw the prize waiting at the end of the race, and he went through everything to get it.  It's like trying to qualify for the Olympics... people give up years of their lives working for the thrill of going there.  And heaven... it's better than the Olympics. :)  So much better that it is worth everything we have and can do to go there, to be there... it's even worth being patient, hard at that is to accept. :)