In a long-distance race, it is important to pace yourself. I joined the track team in high school and trained to run 800 meters—about half a mile. On the day of an important track meet, I was ready to go.
This was a special day because my girlfriend was in the stands. I confess, I had never spoken to her, but I wished she was my girlfriend. And winning this race might have attracted her attention and her affection.
When the gun went off, I took off like a shot. After the first turn, I was ahead of everybody. Then, suddenly, I ran out of gas. I tried to keep going, but it was impossible. I had started out too fast.
My stomach sent a message to my brain informing me that the sandwich I had eaten earlier in the day didn’t want to run with me anymore. Before I knew it, I was kneeling on the infield grass. The sandwich came up first, followed by pizza I had eaten a few years earlier.
Instead of pacing myself and running to finish the race, I tried to beat the others and failed to do either. The race of life isn’t about speed, it is about endurance.
The author of Hebrews says,
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
This post is adapted from Ken’s Devotional book Lighten up and Live! 90 Light-hearted Devotions to Brighten Your Day. A perfect way to start your morning. Get it here.
Comments
We all ‘jump the gun’ during our life time so you have plenty of company. Fortunately, time and age makes us a little wiser and we do more ‘looking before we leap’. Blessings Ken and thanks for laughter. I believe God’s gift of laughter is one of the best and use it in ministry. There’s an old saying of ‘a smile is a frown turned upside down’ and it also causes less wrinkles. Happy 4th of July.
Ken,
I couldn’t agree with you more. There have been times I have been more interested in starting something, than ensuring that i complete whatever i started.