The other day a friend of mine sent me an encouraging e-mail and it was right on time. The e-mail stated that life is not a 50-yard dash but a marathon. It did not go into detail as how life is like a marathon. I am glad that it didn’t because it gave me something to think about all week. I have never ran a marathon before and I really have no interest in doing so. I am more of a sprinter. I am a let’s get ‘er done person. When I ran track in high school I was usually the fourth leg/runner in the 4 X 100 meter relays. In order to be selected for this position the following qualities are most desirable: 1st or 2nd fastest runner on the team, disciplined in the exchange zone because the excitement and tension will be at its peak (can’t afford to mess up), mentally tough, competitive, and loves to run people down. I am proud to say that I am thankful for the abilities God has given me. I may not be that high school runner but I still have the frame of mind. However, when it comes to doing life, let's just say speed is not a helpful attribute. At least for me it isn’t.
This past week I spent time pondering the ways life is like a marathon and this is what I came up with. A marathon is 26.2 miles so you know when it will be over. However a person’s life span on Earth is variable. Just like a marathon is ran one step at time, we live life one day at a time and this is the perspective we must strive to keep so that we do not get overwhelmed. In order to run a marathon preparation has to be done. Training is very important and it is not easy. Then again neither is life. You have to motivate yourself, prioritize, keep a good pace (did I mention I am a sprinter), set reasonable goals, and have patience (my coach used to say this is a virtue I needed to posses). As I continue to grow I see how God is causing circumstances in my life to produce the desired characteristics of a marathon runner. Training days are not always fun and sometimes it seems easier to sit on the sidelines…but I don’t want to miss out on the victory dance! I refuse to give up and give out.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 says the race is not to the swift so that let's me know that life is truly a marathon. What type of runner are you? Do you find yourself trying to sprint to the finish line of life? Or are you taking your time, pacing yourself, and enjoying the scenery along the way?
