Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 2 Corinthians 8:11
Last Sunday my husband, Greg, and I ran a trail race up, over, down, and through a canyon. Though we had expected a 4 mile course, it ended up 4.88 miles. Elevation gain: 1,738 feet -- in the first two miles. Elevation loss, 1,739 feet in the second two miles, and a continual up and down for the last .88 mile. It was grueling ... well, it was grueling for me. The winner ran the whole thing in 27 minutes and decided to re-run it TWICE!
Ok, I'm not a champion -- but I am a finisher; and as noble as that might sound, when you are in the middle of race, in the middle of a canyon, you really don't have much choice but to finish -- unless you are willing to camp there for the rest of your life. Lesson from the trail: running out of steam doesn't have to mean quitting.
Greg and I like to hike as well as run trails. We often joke about "ranger miles." When trying out new trails, we will often first consult the Park Rangers regarding the conditions, attractions, availability, etc. of the trails, and of course, we always check to see how long the trail is. Invariably the hike turns out to be MUCH longer than anticipated. We have determined that Rangers measure miles differently than our GPS does -- thus, "ranger miles." Sometimes a trail run ends up being measured by ranger miles as well. It always brings a chuckle at the end of the race when the organizers confess that the 5 or 10K was really "a bit" more than "official." We all shake our heads knowingly and pat each other -- or ourselves -- on the back for having survived so well. So last Sunday on the trail it wasn't a complete shock to me when breathless and a bit worse for the wear, I hit the 4 mile marker with no finish line in site. But when I faced yet another incline I seriously considered making my new home on that trail.
Sometimes in life just when we think we are nearing the end of a long haul, up pops a new hill, and the finish line is nowhere in sight. If we become complacent or fatalistic we will choose to just "live" there; to give up, to surrender to the situation. At those times we must determine to see past the hill, and know that the finish line is out there -- around the next turn, or even past yet another hill, but it is there. Complacency will lead to cynicism, frustration, and ultimately hopelessness. But determination will be rewarded at the end.
As I stumbled toward the goal, around the next turn I saw not the finish line, but my husband Greg, who had already finished the race. He had come back on the trail to encourage me on to the end. Scripture tells us,
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, Hebrews 12:1
On the trail there are volunteers who hand us water, and cheer us on, "only 1 more mile to go" [Arg! You have GOT to be kidding, "only" and "mile" do not belong in the same sentence!], "you're almost there," "you're doing a great job," "oops, not that way -- this way" [but my way goes down, you're pointing UP ☹]. And sometimes, a friend or husband who has already completed the race comes back and helps spur us on.
When we find ourselves in the middle of the trail with no steam, it's time to reach out to those who can encourage and direct us. And when we find ourselves finished with a race, it's time to volunteer to reach out to those still running. Remember, the food and the prizes are waiting at the finish line.
