25:11

I am sure a lot of us who have attended church for a fairly significant amount of time, have at one time, or another, heard a teacher or Pastor speak about "running a race" in our Christian journey. There are several places in the Bible where a race is used as an example for the readers and listeners to better understand this journey that we are all on. I have heard comments about how "the race is not for the swift"(Ecc. 9:11), how "that in a race all the runners run"(I Cor. 9:24), how we should "persevere in this race"(Heb. 12:1), and how we should "finish the race"(II Tim. 4:7). Recently, I have lived these scriptures. I ran in a race. Not a marathon, but a 5K race. I'm from the old school, so let's say it was 3.1 miles.
I had started running when I left UPS, to stay in shape, and to make my doctor happy. My son, Joshua, is a "runner". He ran Cross Country in High School and College, and he still runs. He is the one that has convinced me that a 5K (3.1 miles) is not that hard of a run......and I believed him. Anyway, I had stopped running so much this year, till he said that I needed to run in this upcoming 5K race in China Grove. So.........I began to train. I ran for 6 days over 2 weeks, and he assures me that I am ready to run. "It is an easy course.....just straight down the street and back.....it's at night......no big turns, or hills." So I race. I don't remember a lot about the last half mile. It was so hot. Sweat was in my eyes, and my legs were killing me. After I had poured a bottle of water over me, and laid on the ground to try and recover from the intense leg cramps I was having.......here comes Joshua..............."See, that was easy." I am just trying to walk, and he is smiling. Joshua doesn't say a whole lot, but when he smiles......that means he is proud of Pops.
Like I said........I lived those passages of scripture. I'm not swift.......and everybody did run......oh, there was some perseverance......and I did finish the race......in 25:11, but I realized something very important that we sometimes overlook when we read these scriptures.....We are not running this race alone. I didn't run that race the other night alone; Joshua was right beside me cheering me on. He could have run that race in a time around 17 minutes, if not quicker when he is in shape; but he chose to run with me.......a beginner. He coached me through the mile markers; he encouraged me to run through the cramps; he told me when and where to pass people; how to make the turn-around and not lose time; he poured water on me at the 2 mile marker; he challenged me.........and he stood with me as I received my 3rd place medallion. I was never alone in this race.
We are never alone in this race that we call life, either. We may not be the swiftest of all the runners in the race; it may take us longer than some, but we will persevere, and we will finish this race that Christ has marked out for us. And the best part is........He is running with us. He knows our hurts and pains; He knows the adrenaline rush we feel when we move ahead; He celebrates with us. We are never alone. See you at the finish line.