Mile One...

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? 

It means we’d better get on with it. 

Strip down, start running—and never quit! 

No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. 

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.

 Study how he did it. 

Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. 

And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  

That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! 

–Hebrews 12:1-3 (the Message) 

I’m not the slightest bit athletic. My body, while compact, doesn’t move with any real amount of speed & I have absolutely no amount of coordination… I can barely chew gum & walk at the same time people, let alone throw a ball, swing a bat or run while thinking ahead to my next move. For real. However, regardless of what my body can physically do, my mind doesn’t exactly acknowledge this reality. I mean, I want to try everything… even though it’s likely to end badly… with a band aide. Not to mention I often ‘think’ I’m moving at the speed of light, can clear a building in a single bound & am joyfully oblivious to how much I suck. 

Here’s a case in point. I’ve been religiously training for a triathlon in July. This means biking & running & avoiding swimming every day. Feeling my body get stronger & my fat get tighter. It’s been glorious really. But this past weekend my twelve year old daughter & I ran a 5K at our town’s summer festival. She wanted to do one to get ready for cross country in the fall, I wanted to do one to show her the importance of training. She had only ran one time & I had been hammering away at it since the snow cleared on the trail. I was gonna show that little chick who’s boss. Whooohooooo!

Yeah… I’m sure you know where this train wreck is headed. 

As we approached the starting line, I looked her up & down & winked. That. Was the last time I saw her. She took off like a flash & I, being older & wiser, took off like a turtle. 

Let me just say that 5Ks are an interesting ‘place’ to people watch. There are so many different types of people, representing various ages & from many different walks of life running along the road together. This became very apparent to me as these people began to pass me by… effortlessly most of them. 

At the head of the pack were the guys running for time… they were focused, driven & pretty well ‘lapped’ me… then there was the awesome guy in a wheelchair, the pregnant chick who was 'running for two', the guy pushing a running stroller with two babies in it, some teens who ran for a bit, walked for a bit & laughed a lot & finally a whole gaggle of long legged walkers who appeared to me to just be out for a social stroll. There were fat people, skinny people, tall people, short people, athletic people, not so athletic people. There were people wearing expensive running gear, kids in basketball shorts, women in  specials from Target (I know this because Hello? that’s what I was wearing) & one guy in jean shorts… which I want to explain but I’ve pretty much got nothin’. 

About half way in & right around the time I passed the water station, I was hit with a spiritual epiphany. I can say this with complete assurance because the Hubs confirmed it later by sharing some similar thoughts & we all know he’s paid to have spiritual epiphanies. 

To be honest, as I'm typing away here I'm discovering that like a respectable three point sermon, I actually have three things to share here… one for each mile I ran… ha!

But for the sake of time & because I love nothing better than to leave you with a cliffhanger, today, I will share the first one…

So like I was saying before, right as I passed by the water, it came to me…  our spiritual journey looks a lot like a 5K. Many times a seemingly arduous one. I mean, here we are running along, very often looking at those around us, wondering if we are doing it right. Are we are dressed right? Are we running fast enough? Will we look weak if we stop for water? If we stop to walk? If we stop to rest? & what about our time… Will we finish well? Will we finish first? Will we finish last? Will we finish at all? 

Here’s the thing about running a 5K & truthfully about running the race of Christian life. Comparing ourselves to others has no place & what others are doing in their race shouldn't matter (unless of course we are talking accountability, which in this case, I am not). What does matter is you. The air in your lungs. The forward movement of your legs. The pounding of your feet on the pavement. 

When we run well, we keep focus. We don’t worry about everyone around us. We don’t worry about how fast they are or if they have better sneakers than us or what time they might get or even where they may place. We breathe deep. We move forward. We hydrate. We walk when we can’t run; we rest when our body fails us. & we finish. We finish. 

When we live well, we keep focus. We don’t worry about everyone around us. We don’t worry if they are more spiritual than us or if they have better gifts than us or if they know more Bible verses or are doing more important things for the Kindom. We breathe deep in the knowledge that our Savior is with us. We move forward as the Holy Spirit compels us. We hydrate with the Word of God; in His plan & purpose for OUR lives. We slow down when our spirit is weary; we rest in the One who loves us. & we finish. Oh yes people. WE finish. 

“Some people have a warped idea of living the Christian life. 

Seeing talented, successful Christians, they attempt to imitate them. 

For them, the grass on the other side of the fence is always greener. 

But when they discover that their own gifts are different or their contributions are more modest (or even invisible), they collapse in discouragement and overlook genuine opportunities that are open to them. 

They have forgotten that they are here to serve Christ, not themselves.”
― Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith