Run the Race

   Psalm 119: 32 “I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.”
This year a niece of mine qualified for the Boston Marathon.  We all packed bags, rented a house, and spent a wonderful weekend cheering Madeline on in her quest to finish one of the toughest races in the world. I had never seen a Marathon in person, let alone the Boston Marathon which is world-famous. It was exhilarating, stress-filled, joyful, and an experience I will never forget. The photo above is one I took of her shoes the morning after the race.
Now looking back, I'm reliving the experience through my Scripture-lenses.  We know that the metaphor of the Christian life as a race is in both the Old and New Testaments. I hope to give you some memories and Biblical gems that enlighten my story.
The community of racers ----We did some sight-seeing around Boston the day before, hitting a Red Sox Game. The entire team wore uniforms to honor the racers. All over town we saw people wearing their marathon jackets from previous years.  We would naturally say to them, "Have a great race!" It seemed the whole city was on friendly terms as we were all focused on Monday's big race. There was a wonderful sense of support, love and help from and for the runners.  Experienced runners gave pointers to first-timers  -- we experienced this at a Wendy's across from Berkley school of music. We met a man and his family from California who was an experienced runner.  We chatted with them as if we knew them for years --- the run made us instant acquaintances. I thought of the verse in Hebrews where the writer says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses....let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Running the faith-race with Christ is not a solo project. We are one big cloud --- Christians past and present, running or encouraging the run. Yes, we enter God's kingdom as a individual at the cross, but immediately we are part of a new family, a new Kingdom, and a new community in Christ. God provided coaches in pastors to train us.  The whole city of Zion is involved. The comradery is strong and tells us, "You can do it, God did it through me, and He'll do it again through you."  Christ literally binds us together as we run the race set before us.  We are well-equipped in everything we need.
The gun goes off ----- As the runners stood like sheep in a pen at the starting line, the strangest thing happened.  I watched things fly in the air --- jackets, hats, water bottles, stuff just propelled up and out to the sides.  It reminded me of graduation day as the students toss their caps in the air. What was that?  The runners were throwing off anything that would weigh them down --- even a pound's worth.....any items thrown to the side were then sold to profit charity.  I was seeing Hebrews 12:1 happen right before my eyes!  "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience..." These runners knew that anything extra would add drag and time to their race.  They would not jeopardize their run....those things which had value before were now considered meaningless. I'm sure we all see the application of that --- the Holy Spirit does this to us every day, helping us cast off what hinders and take on what glorifies Jesus.
APP Tracking ----- Technology provided a way to keep track of Madeline.  Out of 40,000 runners, how would we know exactly where she was on the 26.2-mile path?  Her number was put in an app on our phone so we could watch her closely --- her speed and mile marker came to us instantly.  We drove to a mile marker anticipating seeing her, but sadly she outran us.  She was faster than us!  I enjoyed at that moment just cheering the complete strangers coming down the line.  "You can do it!  Keep on!  You are amazing!"  I could see the pain and lack of hope on some faces.  It was raining and not warm. I'm sure they felt the pain. But I could see the little blaze of light as we cheered them on, rang our cow bells, sent warm energy to their striving bodies.  I thought of the verse:  Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. "
I remember looking at Madeline's mom's app and we both watched her time get very slow.  What happened? Did she fall? Was she giving up?  We sent up prayers of endurance for her.  Come to find out, she was on the most famous hill of the race --- "Heartbreak Hill" which occurs at mile 21.  She was being pushed to her limits.  A few minutes later, we watched her speed pace up as the last few miles lay before her.
I thought, "Wow, this is so much like the Christian life."  There are times in the Lord where we are at a good pace, and then a heartbreak hill comes upon us.  Our pace slackens, our muscles scream in pain. But we feel the prayers of others bearing us up.  The Holy Spirit comforts and delivers us from our thoughts of quitting. Our race is never the same two days in a row. We should remember this rather than acting as if it's a shock when troubles slow the race.  Those trials are for our benefit, to bring out patience --- to make us more like Christ. No wonder the Holy Spirit inspired Bible writers to use the analogy of a race for us. Thank you, Holy Spirit!
The Finish Line:  We waited breathlessly at the cold rainy finish line --- our eyes narrowed trying to pick out Madeline.  You see, all runners upon finishing were covered in a silver blanket to keep them warm.  The finish line looked like a gaggle of straggling ghosts ---- cold, exhausted, looking for their families. We finally saw her ---- there wasn't a smile on her face.....yet.  When husband Dominic took her in his arms, she collapsed, cried and said, "Everything hurts!"  We got her to my son's apartment (which was close by) and she would shower and warm up.  Then we went to an Italian restaurant and feasted. She was very hungry!  She became lighter, happy, and her glow of triumph overwhelmed all of us.  It was a great time of celebrating and recounting the details of the race. The day ended appropriately at famous Mike's Italian pastry place where we gorged on the best cannolis ever made....
I thought of this analogy to the Christian life.

​ Some of us are on mile 1. Some are on mile 20.  Someday we will all take our last breath.  Our race will be run. The finish line, death, will greet us.  The death shroud will cover us with it's silent blanket.  We may not have a smile on our face as we meet death.  But once we are in the arms of our Beloved, Christ, we can exhale.  Then, He takes us to His home to feast and bask in the joy of the race. We will sit at his table and eat the richest of delicacies --- who knows, maybe even cannolis. The race, not run in our strength alone, but through Christ's resurrection power.  Eternal joy ---- the reward:  Christ.
Hebrews 12 says: "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith".  
The Boston Marathon offers earthly glory,  a name in a roster, and a medal. The race with Christ offers eternal glory, one's name in the Book of Life, and a Crown. 
Let me offer you a cup of cool water as you pass by. Can you do the same for me?

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