Run like a turtle...

Most mornings when I make my laps around and around, it happens in solitude, but every now and then, somebody will come along for a little while. Sometimes they'll be running the "wrong" way. One time a small group were doing just that,- then had the audacity to tell me, I was running the wrong way!! When we met again on the next lap, not quite at the same spot, I pointed out the fact, that my way was faster :)

 One morning there happened to come along a strapping young man, who decided to loop around the wrong way...

    ~ Ok wait, time out for a minute here, -  I know we just started but......: What does that exactly mean, to be "strapping" ? I've noticed it always being attached to 'young' - nobody ever says; 'strapping' old men...and here is another thing, it isn't allowed with females either - what gives?
~ the Dane part of me just awonderin'  ~

Alright then, back to the morning mentioned above; I had just started my first lap, but right off the bat I decided 'we' needed to meet at the same spot- at least - better yet if it was a bit further his way, which would show my speed being faster.

Then a few things became clear very quickly;
* I was not yet properly warmed up, this being lap # 1
* In effort to keep up, my pace was faster that usual at this point - it being lap #1
* For that reason I was getting winded fast ( surely that must've been the reason)
* No way I was going to be able to keep this pace up much longer

I started loosing ground around lap # 4 and let him rip. (he quit after the next).

      Slowing down to my own pace and catching my breath, I started reflecting on what had just happened to me, and then about the race Paul talks about in the new testament:
Hebrews 12:1 ...and throwing off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us.

         It's a different kind of race, with the goal being to finish rather than finish first!

But, there are a few things these two, the physical and the spiritual race, have in common.
Like I was trying to keep up with the  "strapping" man, matching his pace rather than my own, I quickly became winded and had I tried to keep up for much longer would have had to quit before finishing.

* If I run to somebody else' pace, I "run" the risk of exhausting myself to the point of being unable to finish the race.
* I need to run at my own pace, according to my ability. Steadfast.
* Focusing on my own race and not comparing it against other 'racers'.
This, by the way, is where  the turtle title came about... - they just have their own pace and keep at it!

So my friends, let us encourage one another to follow Him and as the author of Hebrews said in 12:2
              "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...."
           Let us run this race set before us as He bids us - at the individual pace He sets for us.


 - A simple song title "Stop and Stare" by 'One Republic'  popped into my head and made me realize what kind of race Jesus is inviting us to run;
              
              One, where we often stop in Wonder  - 
                                              One, where we never seize to be Amazed -
                                                                                          One, that will leave us in Awe -



-b