Yesterday was Allison first Cross Country Meet....actually it was her first time participating in any competitive sport. I was excited for her, proud of her and of course nervous for her! Allison's decision to participate in a sport especially one that required a great deal of physical movement surprised me...she tends to be a more sedentary person(like her parents)she has always preferred to read, draw, color, be on the computer, play her DS, so when she announced that she was going out for Cross Country my response was "Now you realize that you actually have to run, run alot, it isn't like a hundred yard dash..." Yesterday she finished the race, she stuck with it probably when she really just wanted to quit...but she stayed on course and finished, no she wasn't first, second or even third, all that mattered to her was she finished and that she did.
As I sat and looked at the pictures last night I reflected on the race she ran and the race God has for us. I looked at the picture of the runners at the starting line and saw their eagerness to get started, they had one goal in their minds for the at moment...to make it their best run and to end at the finish line.For many, like Allison, this was their first time, made me think of new Christians how when we made the decision for Christ and were eager to get out and go running with our new found faith. Then I thought of the ground the kids had to run on, some of it was smooth, other areas very bumpy with little dips here and there, some areas nice and green with grass, others muddy and slippery from the recent rain, part of the course dipped down into a small ditch like area, this area was seen by us spectators, for minutes our runners were out of our site, and were were left wondering where they were at, how were they doing...I compared this with our walk as Christians sometimes we are on smooth ground "running" smoothly, then there are times we hit those bumps and dips, valleys, hit the slippery muddy areas and sometimes fall completely onto it, then we get back up and find the smooth grassy areas. For the out of site time I thought of the times I felt lonely like God was the one out of site, not by me, I couldn't see Him didn't know where he was....but I have learned He is never out of site, if there is any moving or lonliness it comes from me not Him.
As the runners came back to site, I felt the relief and peace knowing they were all ok, still on course, still running for the finish line. That relief compares to the times I seek and look for God and feel his presence and am assured that I am still on course. As the race continued, some just couldn't keep going and walked off the field, others grew tired and had to walk, but they refused to give up, others stayed strong. This made me think of the the story in the bible about the strong roots and the weak roots, how some walk away from the faith and God when the course gets bumpy, slippery and tiresome when trial after trial comes.
Another thing I noticed was those on the sidelines, us parents, teachers, coaches, friends, grandparents were cheering every child on, even if they weren't on our team, even if they were weary and tired and walking, we stood there clapping and cheering each child on to the finish line. And once they crossed it hugs from parents and friends, team mates, and the encouraging words of "well done" ," you did good", "you ran a good race", "I am proud of you".
So where am I going with this story? It made me think of my own walk with Christ, when I was a new Christian I was eager at the starting line, not sure what the course would be like, all I knew is I wanted to get running! Then over the years came the bumps, slippery ground(causing many falls), green smooth patches, trials that would come and go quickly and trials that wouldn't and trials that after 2 years I am still in, there have been times when I have had to walk instead of run as I have been weary, times I wanted to walk off the course and stop running the race, but I have been blessed with Godly friends, who are standing at the sidelines cheering me on, helping me stay on course.....I "see" and "know" what my finish line is, it will be the day that I come into the presence of the Lord, until then I must stay on course, no matter the conditions of the course I have to keep my eyes on the finish line. I also know for the times when things get bumpy, slippery, when I feel like I am in last place, all alone and instead of running I am walking I know I also have God there cheering me on......So I have my eyes on the heavenly prize...I will continue to "Press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." And when I cross that finish line my hearts desire is to hear "Well done good and faithful servant" Matthew 25:21
Deanna
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
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