Don't Turn to the Right or the Left

Watch the path of your feet

And all your ways will be established.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil.  - Proverbs 4:26-2

This week Benjamin ran in the State Cross Country Meet at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.  It is hard to believe, but Benjamin is in his senior year in high school.  This was his last cross country meet.  He still has indoor and outdoor track seasons left to run, but now cross country season is behind him.

He's working very hard now on college scholarship applications, writing papers for school, taking college courses while still in high school, and doing his chores, of course.  He's a busy dude, no doubt.  We're proud of him.

And it got me to thinking, regardless if you are a senior in high school or a senior citizen, hard work and focus are critical to success.  Many people start off strong and leave the field behind only to "run out of gas" and be overtaken by competitors.  Many simply lose direction and wander off the path.  Many simply get discouraged and quit running the race. 

King Solomon wrote Proverbs and the one atop this blog post.  He asked for, and was given, great wisdom.  The principles he wrote about remind me of Benjamin running his races, but they apply to our lives.  Run away from evil.  Be aware of where your feet are leading you.  Don't stray from the course.  Good words to live by!

It rained during the entire race and was incredibly muddy and cold, but Benjamin pressed through to the finish line.  Benjamin did a fantastic job in his race and as a senior, he was allowed to choose the restaurant where his team would eat in Natchitoches once the race was complete. 

There was a reward for even non-runners.  Tricia and Benjamin brought home a box of Natchitoches meat pies for supper!

Image Credit

Yum!  We were ALL winners!

Running the Race Set Before Us

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB)

Benjamin, our fourteen year old, belongs to a track club called the Gulf Coast Hurricanes.  They practice every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  They run for miles and miles and also do weight training once they've finished running on Thursday.  I get tired just thinking about it.  After months and months of practice, it was finally time for track meets and an opportunity to put all that training to work!

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and got all our chores done and then loaded up and drove to Baton Rouge where the first meet was to be held at Carl Maddox Field House, the indoor track stadium at LSU.  It was a stellar day - one of those days that you hate to be indoors on.  Russ and Laura Lee are students at LSU and they came and met us to watch Benjamin run like a gazelle.

Tricia, Benjamin,and Russ

Benjamin participated in two events - the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs.  He excels at the longer runs as he has lots of endurance.  We were very proud of him.  It was exciting to witness his races, yelling at the top of our lungs as he ran by, encouraging him to finish strong.  Finish strong, he did. He placed 6th in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:44 and 2nd in the 1600 meter run with a time of 5:52.

Benjamin (second from right) closing in on the finish line

In thinking about the race, it is a perfect analogy to our lives and Christian walk, and it that is why, no doubt, the Apostle Paul used the analogy of running a race in the opening verses of Hebrews chapter 12 that I posted at the top of this entry.  

Even if we never put on the running shoes or spikes, we're all in a race.  Each day as we go out, we're running and there are witnesses watching.  We train day in and day out.  Many times we fall.  More often, we tire and stumble.  And unless we are completely disciplined, we can be lured by that little voice telling us to quit, that it's too hard, that there is no way we'll cross the finish line.  Our bodies (and our minds) gets fatigued during the race of life and want to give up.  It is a daily battle.

A true competitor ignores the pain and the mental weakness that wants to lead us off course.  A victor perseveres to the end and crosses the finish line.  Victory is not for timid souls who fall prey to distraction and give up.  Is it easy?  No way! In fact the race is hard.  One can only succeed in this life by fixing your eyes on Jesus.  He provided our example and leads us to the finish line.  He is our 'coach.' He showed us how to overcome and in knowing Him, we have victory.

The prize - a medal!

There is a prize that we can look forward to.  Sometimes the prize is awarded quickly.  Sometimes you have to wait.  Benjamin went to the scorer's table at least three times before he was awarded his medal.  At last he was given his award.  We congratulated him and told him 'Good Job!"

That's what I want to hear one day when I stand before the ultimate "Scorer's table": "Well done, my good and faithful servant."  Many days the finish line seems unreachable and out of sight. Many days, I'm sure I disappoint my "coach" and the witnesses watching.  But I've got to endure to the end and consequently, until that day, I'll keep training, and keep fixing my eyes on Jesus.  He holds the meet record and he holds my future.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.    

1 Corinthians 9:24

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