Race Day
Today is race day.
Thirty weeks of training wrapped up in seven hours of intense, mind-over-matter physical activity.
I’ve done enough of these to know that it’s not about the race, even though few feelings in the world match the feeling one gets when crossing the finish line in accomplishing any important goal or plan.
It’s about the race within the race.
It’s about the finish lines within the finish line.
It’s about the hundreds of mind over matter moments leading up to the race day mind over matter moments.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY
When I coach people, some succeed in their efforts to set and accomplish their goals, and others fail.
Those who succeed embrace the journey. They understand the journey is never perfect, nor is it always enjoyable. They realize the journey rarely matches the initial path envisioned in the mind.
Those who fail don’t embrace the journey. Things get tough, and they give up. Their efforts aren’t producing perfection, and they throw in the towel. The going gets tough, and their will gets weak.
I repeatedly failed when I was in the throes of addiction and attempted sobriety. I wanted my life completely straightened out in a moment when it had been twisted for years.
Beating addiction or bad habits is a day-at-a-time journey with a day-at-a-time finish line.
If we aren’t careful, we often allow this life to take our eyes off the most important journey and the most important finish line.
Actually, it’s not a finish line; it’s a continue line if we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
It’s a continue line we cross only after He recaps our journey on earth–yes, I believe there is a judgment day.
At that moment He will tell us how well we ran the race–how well we loved Him and our neighbors–how well we performed while on our journey called life.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY
2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
