Gasping for air, legs cramping, body depleted, a marathon runner falls short of the finish line. She pulls herself up again and races once again to her goal, limping that last short distance. I was witness to a spectacle such as this, one year as I watched the Summer Olympics on television. It amazed me the feats a body could be pushed to if only the mind didn't give up on the goal. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "Fall down seven times, get up eight." Isn't that truly the secret?
I was once a treadmill track star. No, seriously, I am no athlete. I wouldn't even bother to call myself a treadmill track star. I honestly hate to sweat, I know I live in Texas, I should be immune. However, the beginning of a new year many years ago, spurred my desire to make a resolution and "get healthy." I found a good deal on a treadmill and decided I could exercise night or day to get in shape. I don't know what spurred the decision, but my dad decided to do the same. It wasn't long until a pseudo competition ensued. I would finish my time on the treadmill and my dad would casually ask, "How long were you on the treadmill?" I would answer and later, he would let me know that he had kept up. Back then I was determined to race faster than my dad, I never knew I would be the one trying to keep up.
Many times I feel like I am running this race we call life like I showed up to a marathon in lead boots and my underwear, with two hours of sleep trying to shove the last bit of bagel in my mouth as the starting gun blasts. What I mean is, dad had a purpose, and I did not. I was running away from fear and anger and running towards whatever I could grasp. You can understand, we all run away from or towards something. Sometimes we are running away from a bad decision, bad relationship, bad friendship, bad habit and sometimes we are running towards fortune, accolades, acceptance. But aren't we supposed to be running a race much more important than any of these?
This week my sister lost a dear friend after a long battle with cancer. Twilla lived up to her name, she had sparkle. I remember the first time I met her and her feisty, sweet spirit bubbled over from her soul. I did not have the pleasure of knowing her well, but I know that as I mourned my father's death she allowed my son her phone to watch cartoons. I also know that she walked my sister through some very dark times of her life. I know by the testaments of the people's lives she touched that she was running towards God. It brings pain to my heart that those who loved her dearly will have to wait for Heaven to see her again, but she finished her race, and what a race it was. Dear woman of faith this verse is for you, 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." You may have never known, but many years ago, when your friendship with my sister was new, I gained from you a gift. Not a material gift, but a day out with you and my sister when you would have never known I needed to feel acceptance, you embraced me, reeled me in with that spirit everyone spoke of, and I saw Christ in you.
This sweet sister in Christ and my dad gave me clarity to something I have avoided for a long time, something I feel led to share with you. Many patients that received that word "terminal" begin preparing for their end, you hear terms like bucket list and last wishes. Patients and their families do the things they always "meant to do," they say the things they always meant to say. These frail beings push themselves to complete these last things on their list, as if they are that marathon runner. They fall down, they grow weary, but they persevere to the finish.
What race am I running? Am I running God's race? In my walk with Christ, I feel I am in a last place position for treadmill track star. If I had my earthly father, I wish I could sit and ask him his fitness plan to run a better race for Christ. Thanks, Dad, I needed this verse, Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." All we have to do is lean on God, He will carry us over the finish line, He will be our water boy, our strength, our hope.
What race am I running? Am I running God's race? In my walk with Christ, I feel I am in a last place position for treadmill track star. If I had my earthly father, I wish I could sit and ask him his fitness plan to run a better race for Christ. Thanks, Dad, I needed this verse, Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." All we have to do is lean on God, He will carry us over the finish line, He will be our water boy, our strength, our hope.
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