It's all over. For the one regular reader (hello, PS!) who loves cycling too, the Tour de France is gawn. One of the best that I can remember with twists and turns right up to the end. But, at the risk of repeating myself (I think I may have said this last year), it has reminded me again of the need for a good no.2. Teams in the tour are made up of nine cyclists with, mostly, one leader (sometimes two – a climber and a sprinter). The rest of the team exist to pull the leader along, protect him from the elements and other riders and make sure he gets to the finish first. 

Their is hardly a glorious job. But it is important – so important, in fact, that they have a name – domestique. Domestiques are well paid and may be required to do all number of things for their team. For example, if the main rider crashes they may be required to give up their bike or wait behind to pace the leader back (this happened to Sky's Geraint Thomas who lost so much time doing so, he was out of the running for his young rider prize). They are not the glory boys – but they make the teams work. All fascinating stuff and what makes the Tour so intriguing.

And it's not a lot different in church life. Leaders need good no2s. That will look different in different models of church. In a small village church with a single pastor it may be a good lay elder or churchwarden. In a large church it may be a good assistant or associate – or the role that US churches sometimes have Executive Pastor. Such men are relatively rare. That is because those who go into church ministry are often leaders in their own right (by definition) and so taking no.2 spots is hard.

But, I would suggest, it is also Christian in the sense that not wanting glory or standing for ourselves and considering others before ourselves are all great Christian virtues. Maybe you're this kind of person? Maybe you've always wanted your "own" church? Maybe you've always wanted to be chairing the meetings and setting the agenda? But perhaps you'd be a really good no.2? We need those too.

The picture shows Mark Cavendish (British rider) with his lead out man, Mark Renshaw. (background) who pulls out of the race at the last minute to let Cavendish through.