In today’s reading, Paul reminds us of the “great cloud of witnesses”, which are those who have come before us and paved the way of obedience. Hebrews 12:1 says: Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. The men and women listed in Hebrews 11 were faithful because they were able to shed the things that held them back and/or pushed them away from their relationship with God. When we remove the distraction of this world, we are able to follow God’s will for our lives more easily. Let us remove the distractions and focus on God’s plan for our lives instead.