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Running is a metaphor often used in the Bible, and it often mentions the race, the prize. Nothing for me can illustrate better the spiritual journey we have, and the necessary trials better than running a long race.
My cousin, Sarah and I ran the half marathon here in Nashville this past Saturday. Nashville's marathon/half marathon is a fun race. Full of hills, the Country Music Marathon entertains its runners and spectators with bands throughout the course.
What I found astonishingly lacking, was the thing many runners needed that day: Ben Gay type ointment at med stations during and after the race, (there was nothing but Aquafor) and the salt packets or pretzels or anything beyond Accelerade. It started off cold and raining, but by the time we crossed the starting line (and it took an hour)- it had stopped and was pleasant weather for racers. However, I believe the cold beginning played a part in fighting the battle to keep the muscles stretched and loose and warmed up.
Around mile 6 or 7 Sarah started to have leg cramps. She had 6 miles to go! About that time, we passed a church that had a band playing \"Beautiful One.\" It was exactly what we needed when we needed it. We both lifted our hands to the sky, singing along and praising God.
What a moment!
The band saw us, the spectators saw us, and together for that moment, we all were one praising God. That was the lifter we needed for the next few miles. Then Sarah was in great pain.
Close to tears, close to wanted to step out of the race, she ran and walked (when necessary) and kept going. I had no pains, I felt like I was doing fine. She told me a few times to just go without her. I said I would not leave her side. We started the race together, we would finish the race together.
A few times we stopped to stretch, and we walked on the uphills and near the end we did a lot of walking. But we finished. Sarah had her eyes fixed on the prize. She says she could not have done it without me by her side. I don't think I would have started the race had she not been running it, I had only trained to 6 miles.
So, we needed each other, and together, arm in arm, we crossed that finish line. We all need someone, along our journey, someone to walk (or run) with us, to keep us moving. Someone to keep us motivated when we could just care less some days, someone to have the drive in their eyes to press us on through the pain. Someone that we can go to when we are angry at God, that person who will stand beside us as we yell at God. And that someone who will give us a shoulder when we are at that place where we are ready to cry and give our weakness to our God. That person who then cries with us and walks with us to that place where we can see, and feel God's healing hands on us.
And we all need the ones cheering us on, maybe not the ones that we cry on their shoulder, but the ones who we may not know so well, and yet they clap and cheer and help us press on. And lifting us to to the Father. We are all runners, spectators, those who help with the water (living water) - that necessary fuel for our race...and there is a finish line.
And different from this earthly finish line- there is no pain when we cross our spiritual finish line. When we cross, we are finished. We need no bag of ice for healing. We don't need to gasp for air. And there is our biggest fan ready to embrace us with open arms, \"Well done, good and faithful servant!\" as he places the medal of honor from his neck to ours. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Even the ones that come with pain, for great is our reward. |
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| We had a message at church yesterday about having a spiritual focus- a focus straight to the glory of God- where the "Onos" of Nehemiah can keep you from doing the great work of the Lord.
Jeff said sometimes the good things can distract you from doing great things. Sometimes we can get caught up in everyone's needs, and feel as if we need to help- that we may miss what duty the Lord is calling us to. We miss the task at hand.
Doing good things is good. It can still point to the Father, but when great things are done, many fruits will come of it b/c it exalts Him even further.
What good things prevent me from the great things?
I'd say my house could potentially keep me from doing the great work with my kids.
I had moved almost all the toys upstairs to the kids bedrooms in the fall...taking back my dining room. The kids don't like to play upstairs all day, they like the big open spaces of the main floor. They like being where I am at- when I am cooking and stuff.
So yesterday I decided that we would be a happier family if toys moved back downstairs.
IN fact, Jeff and I decided that our dining room table was nothing but a table for "stuff" and we took it upstairs to Walter's room and put a sheet over it. (Very light inexpensive table)
It is now Walter's "cubby/fort" area where he has a bean bag, a CD player where he can listen to stories on CD.
And we moved the train table from Walter's room to the dining room. What good is a dining room with a dining room table when you never use it? Now it's a toy room, and it works for us.
And we are happier that way.
Another Ono...
how about the computer, that can keep me from the great work...my kids.
Access to everything on the computer, answers to questions, messages from friends, shopping...and so much more.
Oh Lord, help me remember the task at hand- the summons I have been called to- Motherhood.
Help me to manage my time so that I can take breaks, but have a healthy balance so that I can be the best Mom I have been called to be |
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