THE RACE

Running takes discipline, strength, and endurance.  It's exhilerating, yet tiring when you are as out of shape as I am...I'm not very good at it.  Yet the object is always the same...finish.  Finish with the best time, preferrably...but if not, it's a big feat to finish anyway.  Pounding feet on the pavement, sweat pouring from your brow, muscles burning in your body, Oxygen pushing through your lungs.  With every drop of the foot you are ever closer to that big white banner that declares victory.  At first, it seems so far away, fuzzy in the distance...but gradually as it comes into focus, the determination is there...I'm almost there, I've almost done it.  Just a little bit further, until finally...SUCCESS!   As you stand there awaiting your prize, the thought keeps going through your mind...I did it, wow.  All the hard work, all the training, all the pain...I got here.  I DID IT!  Wow what a mental picture!!

Life takes discipline, strength and endurance.  We have mountains and valleys, even some pain along the way.  Pain that at times is gut wrenching, where throwing in the towel seems like the best idea...anything to be rid of the pain, the hurt, the anguish.  Then in the distance, blurry but constant you see it....a promise.  A promise emblazened in your memory as though it is a ball of fire...Jesus.  Jesus in all his glory stands under that blurry Finish line with a crown...waiting.  Arms outstretched, pierced hands beckoning...keep going my child,  I am here.  I will always be here....Trust me!  Keep pushing forward.  Determination kicks in, and a deep love and exhileration pumps through your veins.  He will always be there, He loves unconditionally.  A friend who doesn't judge, a boss who never changes his mind, the author of your whole life, waits to complete you as your feet fall with every step.  As you get closer to Him, His face becomes clearer.  He's smiling, yearning for your company.  You are His bride and He waits with love shining from His eyes.  Keep going my child.

I've had so much going through my head lately.  God is teaching me so much...and I am humbled.  Humbled that He chose me.  Humbled that He loves me.  Humbled He wants to use me, even though He doesn't need me.  As I'm running, sometimes exhilerated and sometimes with a pretty painful stitch in my side, I wonder how do I deal with feelings of inadequacy.  To most I'm a porcupine, odd...a social misfit.  Sometimes it hurts, sometimes I long to fit in...but why?  None of that really matters...not compared to eternity.  I'm learning slowly that my focus should be on the finish line, on my Jesus...not on those around me.  My race.  Who's acceptance am I looking for?  The other runners? No...I want my Jesus to be proud of me.  I want to cross that finish line and be told..."Well done..."  I want to run in a godly way, and be gracious and kind to the other runners, but my goal should be finishing...winning, and bringing as many people with me as I can. 

Lord, please help me remember, what matters is you.  What matters is loving God and loving others above myself (that is so hard somedays).  What matters is reflecting my salvation on the outside to bring glory to You in all I do.  Help me keep that focus, and continue to remind me...I am bought with a precious price, and You will never give up on me!

1 Cor 9: 24-25  "You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize.  So run to win!  All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown.  That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but OUR CROWN WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED."  (NCV emphasis mine)

Jesus, I need You!