Some people are born to run marathons. Others are created to sprint. And, whether I like it or not, I sprint. When I set out to reach my daily running goal of 3 to 5 miles, I don’t run for 3 to 5 miles. I run for a little while, then I walk a bit, then I take off running again, and then I walk some more. When we run together, I confuse my patient husband, but we reach our goals. They’d probably laugh me right out of a marathon.
When sprinters race, they focus on their goal before they even start to run. They set their eyes on it and never let them waver ‘til their feet cross the finish line. It’s intense! It’s exhilarating! (And actually winning is a blast!)
From one perspective, it’s good to approach life like a sprint. We should keep our eye on the finish line and never waver from it. Eternity with Jesus is our goal, and nothing shall distract us from it. Our focus must be intense!
Beyond that, however, life has a way of messing with the sprint analogy. I set my eyes on the finish line and take off running. Wham! Someone sets a hurdle in my path. “Really?!” I think. “How am I to win the race with this hurdle in my lane?”
Rather than being annoyed by the hurdle, I’m better off to accept the fact that life is not a sprint. It’s more of a cross-country marathon with many obstacles. Once in a while, I may come across a smooth stretch of road that will allow an energetic sprint, but I need to accept the fact that these may be few and far between.
The point is, if I’m going to run to win a race, I need to know what kind of race I’m running. Then I need to train to win that kind of race. And then I can’t complain when that race isn’t another kind of race.
What’s more, I’ll be less likely to complain if I understand the race. If I think I’m doing the 100-yard-dash and someone puts a hurdle in my path, I’ll have reason to be upset. But, if I know I’m running a cross-country marathon full of obstacles, I’ll see each one as a challenge to overcome—and doing so successfully (with the Spirit's help, of course) will always be as exhilarating as winning that quick dash.
Father, help us to see life’s obstacles as challenges to overcome. Give us strength to press on when the race moves uphill or when we can’t see around the next bend. When the goal is blocked from view, help us to remember it, so we’ll continue on. Call us continually to fight the good fight and finish the race to receive the heavenly prize Christ is preparing for us. For Your glory and the honor of Your name, we’ll keep running! Amen.
- What running style do you most enjoy?
- What kind of race describes your life right now?
This post is linked to SomeGirl's Website where you can read a whole collection of thought-provoking blog posts!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment