Sometimes in life, you surprise yourself. I definitely have this time. I started running earlier this year. Before March, something had to be chasing me if you wanted me to run a long distance. I started by doing a 5K for a good cause and decided this was something I enjoyed.
I just did my first 5 miler. My goal was to finish and to do it under an hour. I had not been able to train due to an injury, so this was a lofty goal for me. The humidity was at 90% the day of the race. Within the first mile I was drenched in sweat, and I think about 50 people passed me. That's okay. I kept running. About two miles into it, I passed a girl that was trying really hard, but even I could pass her. I felt like I needed to slow my pace and run with her. I had a slight twinge to do that. It was just a passing thought. I didn't think much of it and kept running feeling kind of good that I could pass someone. I finished meeting my goal and didn't see when the girl crossed behind me.
At home after the race, I started to feel bad about what I had done. I realized that I had grieved the Holy Spirit. Why did it matter that I met MY goal? I was given an invitation from God to uplift someone else, and myself. What made me zoom past her instead of befriend her?
Me. I wanted to keep going. I didn't want more people to pass me. I was being selfish. What was it that God, knowing all things, wanted me to share with this girl? Did I just need to show her that someone was kind and cared about her? What furthering of Christ's Kingdom did I impede? What was missed?
I will never know. That's sad. I lost sight of something vital to living life. This is not MY race. My life is not my own. It's not about how fast I finish. What's important is how I ran the race.
I am writing this so that we can learn from my mistake. It's always worth it to slow the pace to help someone else. We seem to hurry through life intent on our own agendas missing golden opportunities waiting along the way. We are so consumed with storing up treasures here on earth the supply has never been stocked in heaven. Slow down and listen to God's prompting. Obedience to it will change the world.
I just did my first 5 miler. My goal was to finish and to do it under an hour. I had not been able to train due to an injury, so this was a lofty goal for me. The humidity was at 90% the day of the race. Within the first mile I was drenched in sweat, and I think about 50 people passed me. That's okay. I kept running. About two miles into it, I passed a girl that was trying really hard, but even I could pass her. I felt like I needed to slow my pace and run with her. I had a slight twinge to do that. It was just a passing thought. I didn't think much of it and kept running feeling kind of good that I could pass someone. I finished meeting my goal and didn't see when the girl crossed behind me.
At home after the race, I started to feel bad about what I had done. I realized that I had grieved the Holy Spirit. Why did it matter that I met MY goal? I was given an invitation from God to uplift someone else, and myself. What made me zoom past her instead of befriend her?
Me. I wanted to keep going. I didn't want more people to pass me. I was being selfish. What was it that God, knowing all things, wanted me to share with this girl? Did I just need to show her that someone was kind and cared about her? What furthering of Christ's Kingdom did I impede? What was missed?
I will never know. That's sad. I lost sight of something vital to living life. This is not MY race. My life is not my own. It's not about how fast I finish. What's important is how I ran the race.
I am writing this so that we can learn from my mistake. It's always worth it to slow the pace to help someone else. We seem to hurry through life intent on our own agendas missing golden opportunities waiting along the way. We are so consumed with storing up treasures here on earth the supply has never been stocked in heaven. Slow down and listen to God's prompting. Obedience to it will change the world.
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