Running Your Race
A church member reached out to me and offered me two free tickets to a 5K in our local area. My youngest son had been wanting to run one for a while, so I took her up on the offer. Obviously, I had not been preparing for the event and had really been off my regular walking schedule.
I have done many 5Ks over the years, so I thought I knew what to expect. I planned to simply fall in with the slower run/walkers in the back of the pack and leisurely complete the 3.1 miles. On the morning of the run, we arrived early and meandered around the local shops until close to start time. When I went to the start line, I was awakened to the reality of what I had gotten myself into! It was a tiny group of runners, and I didn’t see any strollers or leisurely walkers! These folks had their fingers on their watches and were serious about running! I knew I was in way over my head.
The race was on, and I did what I thought I had to – I took off running. I ran for as long as I could and finally settled for a walk. Thankfully, there was a lady right in front of me and another man in sight ahead of her. Graham, my youngest son, eventually peeled away out of sight. I never saw him again. I stayed with this lady within sight as long as I could, and eventually, she disappeared.
There I was, all alone, doing a race I hadn’t trained for, wondering why I said “yes” in the first place.
The course was tough! Lots of hills and cracked sidewalks covered with pine straw and pinecones. The time clicked away as I plodded along. I knew I was going to be last. As time wore on, I became OK with being last. I realized that I had to run (walk) “my race” at my pace. It didn’t matter that I would be last – someone had to be.
Long story short, I did finish—and I did finish last. My lack of preparation left me sore for days afterward!
In doing this race, I was reminded of an important lesson: you must “run your own race.”
The Bible likens our Christian life to a race.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says it this way: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I can’t run your race, and you can’t run mine. Furthermore, when I try to “keep up with you," things don’t go so well. I must find the pace that God wants me to run, and so do you. Our focus is not on each other; it’s on Jesus!
Please know this: I’m rooting for you as you run!