Running the Race

Isaiah 40:29-31 

He gives power to the faint, 

and to him who has no might he increases strength. 

Even youths shall faint and be weary, 

and young men shall fall exhausted; 

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings like eagles; 

they shall run and not be weary; 

they shall walk and not faint.

I love that passage from the Book of Isaiah.  I find that it gives strength - supernatural strength and encouragement.  Do you ever feel like you need some of that?  I do!  Do you ever feel like you are in a race?  Not a sprint that is exhausting but over quickly, but a marathon that requires endurance and focus day after day, week after week, year after year.  That's life.  Sometimes you wonder how you are going to keep going and you long for that "second wind" that runners talk about when the endorphins kick in and you get that extra burst of energy you need to complete the race.  Sometimes that race is a figurative one and sometimes it is literal.

This past weekend, Benjamin was scheduled to run in a 5K (3.1 miles) in our town called the Rice Run. September is National Rice Month and our area is a big rice producing area.  The purpose of the race is to promote the rice industry.  We awoke to a rainy morning and made our way to Founder's Park in downtown Jennings where the race started and Benjamin stretched out and put on his "game face." 

"They shall run and not be weary."

At 8 am the race began and young and old alike started off. 

On your marks, get set, GO!

Twenty six minutes later I looked up and said, "Tricia, I think our old boy is coming up the road.  Go Benjamin!"

Coming in to the finish line

And just like that he whizzed by toward the finish line with us cheering loudly, encouraging him to finish strong.  I think there was maybe one other person as young as him that finished before him.  We were pretty proud of him.

Toward the finish line

Although exhausted (and feeling like he was going to throw up), I think Benjamin was pretty proud of himself, too.  He finished the race and finished strong.

"I'm tired, Momma!"

Sometimes in life the race is long and hard.  Sometimes we want to quit.  Sometimes we want to pull over to the side of the road (and throw up!).  Hopefully, we have loved ones that surround us, encourage us, minister to us, and keep us in the race and heading toward the finish line strong.  Then we can reciprocate and help others toward the finish line.  At the finish line of this race there was plenty of fruit, drinks and boudin to be enjoyed by all the participants and other rewards that were passed out.  At the finish line of life, the stakes are higher and the rewards much greater.

Endurance

Stay in the race and FINISH STRONG!

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us