A few months prior to the end of last year a few of us at work decided to run this local half marathon. Since then we've been training for the performance, which is on Feb. 12th. Which is in a matter of a few weeks now. I'm not sure if I'm totally ready, but I'm going to give it my best shot!
1 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:1
What I'd like to mention here is how life and our faith is like preparing and running a marathon. A marathon takes a lot of endurance to finish. [no pun intended] Therefore in order to make sure you have that endurance your going to need to train your body to run. So we train our bodies to endure this race, we spend time in the gym building muscle and not only do we train our bodies, but although running is a physical thing we can forget our minds and so we must train our minds mentally to run as well.
In the same way, our lives we are running the race, a marathon of our faith and the goal isn't just a finish line but eternal life. And just like in a real race things happen that can throw us off rhythm or we may stumble and fall or even sometimes we feel like we can't run anymore and we just want to stop.
I can't help but think of when I just wanted to stop during training and just be done with it. Those of you who don't know me. I am no runner by any means. But I'm up to 10 miles on my long runs. I never would have thought of me running 10 miles at a time.
Feb. 12, 2011 - Baytown Jail Breaker Half Marathon - Complete
I've got to say. 13.1 miles never could have been any longer! I made it though.
There was a point in my run where I was alone for the most part. My pace was fairly slow I have to add. It felt like an opportunity to dwell on God for a little and maybe talk to Him. I remember it when I got to the bottom of the bridge and it was then on my way I tried to focus on Him. I couldn't help but just ask Him to keep me going and for my legs not to cramp up and fail on me. So WE ran up and down that bridge and ran/walked the rest of the 6 miles left in the race together.
Just like in life...now that I can reflect, along our race as we run we ask God for help. Help to keep our finances up, to get a job, to find a new home, to get through life's storms, whatever... Just like while I was running asking God to keep my legs strong, we ask God to keep us strong in our lives during the day to day "run".
I'm very tired...and I'm sure it doesn't flow since I started writing this a while back and I would like to expound on more of this...but, I leave you with this.
We need to strive to stay in step with God. Just like a race, it doesn't run itself. YOU need to react and physically respond. Francis Chan has a great book.
Forgotten God, which I have a chapter excerpt in another book he wrote,
Crazy Love. I can't wait to go find it and read it...here's the bit I wanted to share from my facebook status update from the other night...Be blessed!!!
"God is big and mysterious enough that we cannot simply put a label on this process and move on. It requires continual engagement and wrestling and discovering how to live a spirit life today. Not ten years from now. Not tomorrow. But right now, in the particular time and place He has put us. As we 'work out our salvation' and as 'God works in us.' Let us keep in step." - Francis Chan, Forgotten God. Amen! \o/
