The Race
January 18, 2010
Dear Friends,
This past Saturday I ran a 35K (21.7 miles) trail run. This race was 99% through the woods with no discernable path. You followed white paint spots on trees spaced about 40 meters apart. I liken it to a combination race and scavenger hunt. You are running through the woods hunting for white marks.
There are a lot of Biblical allusions comparing our life to running but I never truly appreciated them until this past Saturday. While I have run a few marathons along paved roads with cheering crowds and always considered those running verses, there are a few disconnects between the Bible and my experiences road racing. Life is not a sprint, it is a marathon; so the analogy works. However, life is more like a long trail run than a road race.
This race took place in a hilly, forested state park. One moment you are careening down a hill trying to keep your feet under you and the next you are trudging up a steep incline with your legs burning. Life is like that. Sometimes, sheer momentum carries you along. Sometimes things are happening so fast you can barely keep a semblance of control. At other times, you have to give it everything you’ve got just to make any progress. There are lots of ups and downs in life. If you don’t like the way things are going today, just wait because tomorrow will be different.
In your typical marathon, you have at least a few cheering crowds. In my experience, there are very few cheering crowds in life. On the trial race, I often found myself with some running partners. We’d help each other stay on course. We’d help each other clear obstacles. At other times, I was completely alone. Life is like that too. Sometimes you are surrounded with friends and family who can help you through, but all too often you feel like you are out there by yourself with God in the wilderness trying to make your way. You can have no better company than Him. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy.” (Ps. 16:11 KJV)
There were a lot of obstacles on this run. I fell face first on the ground three times after tripping on a hidden rock or root. There were frozen streams to cross which were easy compared to the non-frozen streams we had to cross. There were a lot of fallen trees we had to climb over too. Life throws obstacles in our way such as sickness, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job to name a few. You also find yourself falling face first every now and again. You get up, dust yourself off and keep on running. Many times our falls are self-inflicted. Those are the worst kind because they can be avoided. When we ignore God’s word and chose our own path, we are setting ourselves up to fall. God’s path may include its own obstacles, but it will have a lot less than going off on our own.
Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.(Prov. 4:10-12 NIV)
I am also reminded of the Proverbs where it says,
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.(2 Sam. 33,34, 37 NIV)
I got lost three times on the race Saturday. I wasn’t lost for too long. If I didn’t see a white mark on a tree for about 50 meters, I knew I had missed a turn. Jesus said “I am the way” and “follow me.” I think when we don’t follow his mark (we do things our way, not his), we get lost. Sometimes our pride won’t allow us to admit we are off the right path and we decide to make our own path. If I had made that decision this past weekend, I would still be out there hopelessly lost. The correct course of action is to go back to the right path as soon as we know we are off of it. You lose some time backtracking, but the consequences are a lot less severe than if you keep plowing ahead on the wrong path. I recall the famous 23rd Psalm that says “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (v.3)
I am a slow runner. In fact, if I had to put a Biblical theme verse for myself on my running shirt it would be “the race is not to the swift.” (Ecc. 9:11 KJV) I am always near the end of the pack, but no more so than in this race. Unless you are a premier runner, your race is not to win, but to beat the course. Your goal may be beating a certain time. For me, the goal is always just to finish. The previous weekend I had severely strained my hamstring. I went to the race believing that there was less than a 10% chance I would finish the race. I prayed about it, stretched out as good as I could and ran even more slowly than usual considering my injuries and the terrain. Sometimes the most important part of the race is simply starting. Once you are in it, the next most important thing is just to stick with it. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Heb. 12:1 NIV)
As I sit here after the race, I am tired, sore and a little banged up. I contemplate what it will be like in God’s Kingdom when the race will be won, but no weariness will follow the victory. These races might be good exercise of both body and spirit, but the true race for immortality is the only race really worth winning.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Is. 40:29-31 NIV)
Have a great week,
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