Yes, it’s true. I ran at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. 

I suppose I should clarify. I participated in the 1.25-mile Fun Run, which was after the world-class athletes finished their competitions. This was still a noteworthy accomplishment for a non-runner such as myself. 

Not wanting to be left in the dust by the young families lined up next to my husband Peter and I, my pride propelled these hesitant bones forward when the gun sounded. I ran an impressive first stretch. This slowed to a run-walk-run after I reached the big man-made hill. 

Would I make it the whole way? Was I foolish doing this with osteoporosis, when last year I almost had stress fractures in my foot from doing yardwork too vigorously?

It was a challenge I had to try.

The rest of the race became a surprisingly sacred time of worship as I sang along with my phone’s praise music. The wooded splendor scrolled past me along the dirt path. I felt so free! There is something special about moving our bodies in the worship of our great God and His creation.

I would have missed the beauty along the way if I focused on how many runners were ahead or behind me. This was my unique journey.

A few weeks earlier, I was studying 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25 in my daily times with Jesus.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”  1 Corinthians 9:24, 25  NIV

I was drawn to this passage because I have been thinking about life’s finish line. How do runners approach the final stretch of a race? What can I learn from them, as I draw closer to the end of my race on earth? 

I thought a lot about how runners speed up when they see the finish line ahead. Does the Lord want me to work harder to leave an eternal impact behind?  Or does He want me to slow down and enjoy the fruits of the years of labor behind me? 

So it piqued my interest when Peter suggested going to Tallahassee to watch the world’s best-of-the-best runners compete. Signing up for this Fun Run was a last-minute lark. So here I was, one foot pounding ahead of the other.

My lungs burned, but my legs charged forward as the path curved toward the cheers. As I felt the exhilaration of drawing closer, the Lord seemed to answer my question, Should I speed up or slow down in this race? In life?

As I caught sight of others passing through the archway, it suddenly hit me that runners speed up when they see the finish line to beat someone else (or to beat their own past record). This is necessary if you are in a competition! But in the Christian life, we aren’t competing with anyone else. Our eyes are on our Lord and Master, who is leading us along the straight and narrow way He has specifically created for each individual. 

Every single one of us who trusts Jesus wins the grand prize, a place in Heaven with Him! We can also earn the prize of hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” as we choose every day to run with Him to the finish line.

The wooded path behind me had been so worth it, but I expended most of my energy along the way. As I approached the final arch, I needed to factor in my limited reserves.  My main goals for the entire 1.25 miles were to keep moving at a good pace, enjoy and worship the presence of Jesus, and take the next step after the next with my eyes on the goal. This final stretch was no different.

I experienced a great sense of accomplishment and felt years younger as I crossed that finish line. I received my impressive plastic medallion and met up with Peter, who had finished much earlier than me. Our muscles moved slowly the next day or two, but I was pleasantly surprised that my body was energized by this spur-of-the-moment jaunt.

However, the most valuable takeaway was that I realized God doesn’t expect me to speed up as the days behind me are more numerous than the days ahead of me. He removed the pressure that I had placed on myself each morning. I’ve spent a lot of energy along life’s journey, and I need to take that into consideration.

On the other hand, He doesn’t want me to stop and forget I’m still in His race. I want to make the most of every day He gives me breath. I love sharing His message of eternal life so that as many people as possible can join me in bowing before our mighty God’s throne in Heaven. And I love encouraging other believers to grow in knowing and trusting Him, and in realizing they are His messengers. He can accomplish these things with or without me, but I love the honor of being His ambassador.

He showed me that in life, as in a race:

Our main goals are to keep moving at a good pace, enjoy and worship the presence of Jesus, and take the next step after the next with our eyes on the goal. The final stretch is no different.

What helps you make the most of each day? How do you maintain the balance of work and rest?