Christian Living

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One mile disappears; she can feel the exhilaration of smooth pace accomplishing. She knows she has six miles before the race is up, but she is content to enjoy the beginning. As the path curves and drops down a bit, she catches herself thinking about the bills and whether or not she sent the payment on the credit card. Did she turn the coffee pot off? She abolishes any thought that would distract her, and keeps her pace.

But then another runner passes her by.

She maintains focus; half laughing at who she was not 8 months ago. Disgruntled and out of shape, she signed up at the local gym and made this marathon one of her goals. This race is a hallmark of accomplishment in her life, a mark of old things passed, and things new.

Two runners pass her by.

She quickly maneuvers her water bottle, and takes a small sip. She is on mile two now, and as the path elevates, she grimaces and maintains her sure, steady movements. The path is getting harder, at this curving section is so high, she can really feel her muscles pulling, straining to maintain the pace she has set.

Four runners have kicked it into high gear, and they soar by.

What was she thinking? She hasn't changed. She isn't dedicated, and she's pretty sure there is no way she can do this. Sure, it's just a race, not necessarily a win situation. But somebody has to cross first, and she was secretly hoping, maybe she would place. She had trained hard to even be able to consider this an option, but this was mile 4, and nagging thoughts of embarrassment taunted her.

She could picture it now…the last person to cross. An award being handed to her for last person to finish. Somebody had to do that too, but who wants to? She needs to decide, speed up, put up or shut up.

And this is the point we all need to come to. The decision to endure, to do our best no matter what we get out of it, or to quit and suffer the embarrassment of never knowing.
When I think of endurance, I think of the Bible passage " run the race that is set before you, laying aside every weight and sin which doth so easily beset you." " To endure hardness as a good soldier," and when the Bible tells us that one of the fruits of the spirit is longsuffering.

Have a rough day? Do you feel others passing you by? Feeling a little heavy from that extra "weight"? The answer to endurance is to know what to bring and what to leave behind. Leave behind the terrible things that have happened, what people have said, and even what they might think. Take courage, trust, salvation and grace. Lay aside anything that makes you running the race well, more of an impossibility.

Because when it all comes down, and we have brought our tricks, trades and penny pride magic tricks to the race, we haven't finished anything. To finish is to complete and to complete is do that which is required of you. Please don't give up. Endure hardness as a good soldier and run the race of the most valiant; the race that is finished and answered with, " Well done my good and faithful servant!"

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