Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-3a, NLT)
I developed a passion for running about 14 years ago when I was looking for ways to seek freedom from the stress I was feeling in my marriage. Somewhere during that first year of running I tucked away aspirations of running a marathon. And somewhere in the midst of the next two years my marriage fell apart…and I quit running. Over the next decade I flirted with the sport again; but, I always seemed to get detoured…until this past spring when my girlfriend suggested we join a training group that would help us get ready for Abe’s Amble...a 10K. I said, “Why not...sign me up.”
Three days ago, I completed that race. Crossing the finish line brought with it a bittersweet moment where exhilaration and letdown collided. It was over and I momentarily felt directionless. But, as I meandered my way through the crowd away from the finish line, the memory verse I had learned as a child surfaced: “let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” I knew there was a lesson in this journey that could be compared to my faith. Finally, those words held significance for me.
The writer of Hebrews describes our Christian life as “the race God has set before us.” The route, length and obstacles of this course are already laid out. This race isn’t about what I have planned. It’s about what God has planned for me. But, the paradox is that I am not a puppet that He manipulates across the finish line. I still get to decide whether or not I will run the race.
As I prepare to leave for Kenya, I feel like I’m stepping into the starting blocks of a race course I’ve never seen or run before. Yet, I know that the last four years (and probably the last 44 years) have prepared me with a treasure of life experiences that I can share with others. Completing a 10K race with 1400 novice and veteran runners was not a goal I would have set by myself. And Africa is not a place I would have made as a first choice to visit. Just as I trained with experienced runners for my race, I will run this mission race with experienced servants who will show me the way.
I continue to be amazed that I serve a God who cares enoug to work all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)...And to throw me off with his sense of humor every time!
Oh yeah…my next racing goal is a half marathon in the spring. Guess that means I’m half-way to my original goal I set 14 years ago
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