Bang! Goes the sound of the starter pistol. It rings out loudly, the echo fills the stadium, and for a quick moment silences the deafening crowd. They raise in anticipation as the runners leap forward to obtain position. The crowd is loud and boisterous. Many fans chant loudly the name of their favorite runner, while others simply clap forth encouragement. The runners fall into position, jostling throughout the pack, they settle into a rhythm. Their elbows clash against each other and legs brush legs. "padda pat, padda pat, padda pat" is the cadence as their cleats strike the track. This is a long race. The runners know this as they prepare their minds for the journey ahead. Beads of sweat begin to form on their bro. One runner breaks out of the pack. His heart is pounding as he rounds the turn. Behind him the runners fade back. The race continues. Now streams of sweat are falling from their faces, caught by the wind they fade into the red of the track. Their eyes are like that of a hawk, narrow and focused. The runner in front thinks he has it. He is fully fixed on the finish line. The runners behind him concentrate on each step. They feel the intricacies of each groove beneath their feet. They notice the gesture of each opponent, down to the twitch of each muscle. They run to a pulse of inhales and exhales. They are like a machine, drafting off one another...waiting, waiting..waiting for their moment. One lap turns to two, and two into three. The bell rings coldly. The sound of metal against metal marking the last lap. As if the first day of spring had come after a long winter, the runners come more alive. The runner out front, now weary from trying to distance himself, fighting the wind alone, breathes deep and tries to conjure up all the strength he has remaining. This is in a sense the longest lap. He must hold off the pack of wolves strategically stalking their pray. They are hungry and can smell blood. All else around them fades now. The crowd is gone and they see in a blur of black and white. Arms at their side pumping them forward, legs increase their stride, and seconds seem like minutes as they plot their moves. The last turn is in sight. Its time. The pack breaks free like a glass exploding against a tile floor. The runner who was in front all along quickly falls behind them all in defeat. He gave it all for nothing. Too much too soon. He became kindling engulfed in a wildfire. The prey in front of them has been devoured and dessert is the finish line. Outside, inside...outside, inside. Its down to two of them now... With a glance its over. Foot before foot he crosses the line in victory. The runner who started out front now looks forward in disappointment; defeated. Disappointment and defeat... How often it is that I have felt these things in my own walk with Christ. Just like the runner who lost, I am a blaze of fire that burns out too quick. These past few months I find myself constantly reminded that my relationship with God is more of a marathon than a sprint. God has graciously gifted me with a zealousness. A zealousness that when not manifested correctly ends in burn-out. A zealousness that often times leaves me gazing upon the finish and not the now. This is dreadful. I often times causes me to miss the precious moments God has placed in front of me. My lack of maturity, and patience or long-suffering. The small, vital, important things that grow us into Christ-likeness. After all, its the journey that makes us, not the end.
As the runner up front had no one to pace him, to face the wind with him, he tired more easily and quickly. How important is it for us to surround ourselves with those who push us forward!? More importantly, those who are willing to face the storm with us. Just as Paul had Barnabas or Timothy, we need those who will not leave when times get rough. The friend who grabs your hand when you begin to fall. Misery is the accomplice of those who run this race without such "teammates". Just as God is the essence of relationship within the trinity, he calls us to live a life in relationship with others. I don't know where I would be without the pillars who have stood firm with me throughout the roughest seasons of my life. Actually, I do know where I would be, dead and possibly in hell.
God is faithful. Despite my own immaturity, He never ceases to catch me in grace like an avalanche. He is the gentle corrector. When I run too fast. or when I'm looking ahead and not down- He brings a strong north wind in force to slow me down. It's not always the most pleasant experience, but it is the most rewarding. It brings humbleness and maturity. It's in these times when we often times feel disappointment or defeat. However, we must remember, disappointment and defeat come from the enemy. We mustn't take the wide road that leads to destruction in these times; but exhale, pray, and live in joy - joy, that our God loves us enough to bring humility upon us. Remember, only He can see the past, present, and future. Therefore, live in joy, that he loves us enough to say "slow down beloved, you cant finish the race at this pace. And my only desire is to see you succeed". I am fortunate to have a friend and mentor here in Tacoma, Chris Hippe, who has probably said these same words to me twenty times within the past two months- "My desire is to see you succeed". When pride rises up and I need correction, its these words that humble me. When sealed with love, these words pierce my heart. Isn't success what we all crave? Success in all our endeavors, relationships, challenges, pursuits...
Our God who reigns in our lives, and who is our overall authority- says these words to us each daily. All He desires, for us, is to succeed... succeed in our pursuit of Him and the glory He has bestowed on, and before us. Let us all run this race to the triumphant finish- and in doing so, we will all hold hands and walk through that heavenly finish line together as the trumpet sounds!
Love, LOVE, you all...
