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Tag: faith

  • Finishing the race

    Finishing the race

    I completed my first ever ‘fun run’ this morning.  Actually, I walked it; and for that matter not a lot of it was fun!  I kept up enough pace to finish the 8-kilometres just shy of an hour and a half.  I am satisfied to have simply finished the race.

    The Bible talks a lot about our life being like a race.  One verse in Hebrews (12:1) emphasises some of the qualities of any race.  There are those who have gone before us that have finished the race; the witness of the veterans who cheer us on.  There is also a necessity to strip down to essentials and all that hinders us before starting. It is then with perseverance that we finish the race marked out for us. 

    Francis of Assisi says “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible. And suddenly, you are doing the impossible.”  Today was a bit like that.  My first step was to register, the next to get myself at the starting line early this morning and then the next step was to simply start by putting one foot in front of the other.  My only goal was to finish the race before I got kicked off the course.  I finished sooner than I thought I would.  If you had told me I would make that time yesterday, I would have thought that was impossible.

    My understanding of any race, and especially the particularly challenging marathons is that the qualities of comradeship, dedication and perseverance are embodied therein.  Today’s fun walk for me was enriched by my companions; my son and his fiance who started the footrace with me and also those I knew who cheered me on from the sidelines. At times, I was spurred on to maintain my pace simply because others were ahead on the course.

    My heart has been heavy this week for those who are struggling to run-or even walk, their life’s race.  Some have been running hard but cannot go any further because they have broken down. Some are close to falling out because of exhaustion.  Others have lagged at the start and seem to have made no progress at all.  I hurt for those that have been sabotaged by others.   I just want to cheer them on and say keep going; one step at a time; just hang in there!  

    Verse 2 of Hebrews 12 encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus- the pioneer and perfecter of faith. He endured opposition and yet finished. We must not grow weary and lose heart.  At times, our life’s race is tough and there seems to be more hills than flat straights.  I am glad that Jesus and many saints before us have completed their race.

    I love the way the Message Bible puts it “When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he (Jesus) ploughed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” 

    This morning’s fun run has put a shot of adrenaline into my body- and my soul. I hope that you too may find a shot of adrenaline for your soul this week to persevere with joy the course set before you. 

  • Taking a Godly risk.

    Taking a Godly risk.

    As I am moving further towards retirement I am sobered to realise how conservative and safe my thinking has become. This is being challenged though. This week an internal war seems to have broken out between my responsible and fiscally sensible inner person and a quiet voice whispering ‘take a Godly risk’! 

    As I get closer to my death I sometimes wonder if I have conceded to ordinariness out of weariness and sensibility.  Erring on playing it safe and being responsible, I have been considering my choices on the basis of practicality and what promises security. Security in what?  I could be taking Godly risks that involve faith and placing my security in a dependable God. 

    But when does risk taking turn into foolishness?  When does daring turn into folly?  How old is too old to take risks? 

    My husband and I have done some things others have considered foolish or folly.  Our lives have been richer though for the adventures we have been involved in. 

    In our mid-twenties, we packed up everything, gave up our jobs and travelled Australia in a four-wheel drive.  We left our then home in Western Australia and returned to Central Queensland to leave a ‘spare’ pup and our cat with my parents before heading off with our dog and friends in a matching two-toned Toyota Landcruiser.  Over a five-month period we travelled through New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and onto Darwin before returning to Central Queensland. We setup a tent and air mattress most every night and lived out of the back of the wagon.  We came back with many stories to tell.

    In our mid-thirties, we sold up everything we had accumulated, wrapped up our business and moved overseas to live in Vanuatu.  We sold up our home in Central Queensland, left our little dog with a church family before flying out with our two children.  Over a three-month period, we lived in villages on three islands.  We came back with many stories to tell.

    The past decade we have been consolidating, accumulating and evidently putting down roots.  We have been busy raising teenagers into young adults and in my case, saying goodbye to both my parents.  We have had some adventures and we have some stories to tell.

    But now, we are empty nesters stumbling in the dark as we consider our lives beyond raising a family.  Apart from all the ‘stuff’ that clutters our lives, we do not have too many adventures planned.  I fear I have become more of a spectator of life than someone living it.  My stories are old and my enthusiasm has waned. Perhaps it is time to get out there again and start a new adventure. 

    If I am to be a co-creator of my future story with God then I have to become a participant in life and not just be on the sidelines.  That means I might get hurt, I will get tired, I may end up with scars and bruises but I could also have stories of miraculous wins and jubilant celebrations.  It is time to shake off the unnecessary conservatism if my remaining decades are going to be story worthy.  Time to take a Godly risk-or two!