2 Jun
Chariots of Fire…
I hate exercise. On the other hand, I also hate the thought of being 500 pounds, so I occasionally attempt physical activity. I like hockey, tennis, and snowboarding, but the one form of exercise I have never understood is running.
To me, it seems pointless. You leave one destination, only to kill yourself for half an hour and end up right back where you started. There is no motivation to please the adoring fans, only the scenery along the way to distract you from the discomfort you’re in. However, both my brother and sister are excellent runners, so I somehow got roped into trying it a few years ago. To make matters worse, my siblings were determined to make me run in a race by the end of the summer!
When that day came, I was in pathetic running shape. Months of excuses provided me with legs and lungs that would much rather watch Star Wars than run. As I approached the starting line, my father’s words came to my memory: “I’m in such bad shape; I don’t think I could even drive 5 km.” That makes two of us. The gun sounded and we were off! I was determined to give it my all, even if it meant spending a night in the hospital. I charged ahead, choosing not to let my pride be wounded by the 85-year-old ladies passing me on the outside. As I crossed the half-way point, someone offered me water, but I refused. “Water makes you weak,” I growled and pushed forward. After what seemed like hours I finally saw the finish line! I noticed something else too. My soft-hearted brother had slowed down and was cheering me on to catch up to him so we could finish together! It was a beautiful moment of brotherly companionship that would be treasured in the hearts of our friends and family for years! But I flew past him and raised my arms to the sound of cheering as I beat his time and won bragging rights for the next whole year…Kodak moments are so overrated!
Life is like a race. Some people are walking, some are running; some people are giving it their all while others are staying comfortable. In the end, we will all finish life’s race, but what kind of finish will it be? Will it be the kind of race that inspires others, or one that is easily forgotten? It’s never too late to turn it up a notch! We have only one life to live, how do we want to spend it? Paul reached the end of his life in a prison cell awaiting execution. It was a dreary circumstance, yet he had confidence that his life had counted for something. He could boldly say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). What kind of race are we running? If we were to die today, could we echo Paul’s words?
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About the Author
Mike Blackaby is a 22 year old student who plays guitar in a rock band, loves to snowboard, play hockey, and cheers for the Colorado Avalanche. He is terrified of spiders, but loves reading fantasy novels, watching movies, taking road trips, building camp fires, and will do any roller coaster if someone goes with him. You can contact him via Facebook.
Read more about Mike here.
