running for the prize

I ran my second half marathon yesterday in Berlin, and as always before, the adrenaline rush of subjecting your body to something that is challenging and while participating with thousands of others, the experience is a bit contaging. I woke up today as excited as yesterday beFORe the race, after such a great experience. When God gives you a passion to do something that you're able to enjoy for yourself, yet see His hand upon you in the midst, it brings you no greater joy. I will never be a gold medalist, yet I find the strength through a discipline that shows reward in the end, while I "put my body into this subjection" for awhile, in order to accomplish a premeditated goal. Many non-runners think runners are crazy, and I completely agree. But as the infamous Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland asks "Have I gone mad?" while Alice responds,
"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. all the best people are."

It is great to be mad (or passionate) about something, and together with many others, understand the mad obsurdity. It is even greater to meet together shoulder to shoulder with, literally yesterday 90 some nations, in a city of such exteme impact on our world. A sense of "gemeinshaft" or "fellowship" comes from the commeraderie with those you experience the same toil yet joy with, through something like a long distance race. And as our tummys churned, we each individually set out for goals of our own, to accomplish something as individual humans that we might leave feeling proud of.

I always take with me verses of the Bible that represent physical similitude in accordance to our spiritual life. Paul in Corinthians says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only ONE gets the prize? (This could be disconcerning or self defeating) but as we set back and just realize that God created those we find to come in 1st regularly hailing from the most talented African continent, it seems that the general consensus is still not to just give up, but aim for our own goals. Paul then says "Run in such a way as to get the price. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but WE do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

And our outlook must be so; I enjoy each race embracing the opportunity I have to beat my own PR. And in our Christian walk in life, we must look to Jesus the author and FINISHer of our faith. He has won the victory over life and death. He calls us to Himself to believe and be sealed with the promise that we CAN win. But we must bring our bodies into subjection as He calls us to die to ourselves, our personal desires, and lives for His. And when we do, when we fight the good fight, with strength in fervor for something outside our personal momentary interest, it proves to be far greater and more satisfying than everything else in this world which pales in magnificance to Christ our Savior. There is unfortunately only one 1st place winner here on earth, but with Christ- there is one who has won it for all of us, and more importantly so, for eternity!