Rejoicing like a strong man to run its race

I can't say that yesterday I ran what I did in Durham's annual 8k race, with complete rejoicing as in a strong man running his race. I do, however, give thanks to the Lord for strength to run, for a community of people who enjoy the same sport, for beautiful weather, and an opportunity to come together for an overall enjoyable event.

Again, I believe running points to SO many life analogies. I signed up for this race awhile back, with the great 'intention' of pushing myself to train hard, in hopes of some sort of prize. Now not knowing what the competition would be, nor having the experience of running an 8k length before, combined with lack of motivation to push myself against the wind which gives no frame of reference for competition, I fell a little short.

Again, an enjoyable experience, but this time I learned something that I already knew- if that's possible, that I simply cannot train alone.

And so out of it comes another sermon for thought- that even as a runner cannot train alone, (or at least not nearly as well as with others beside him), our Christian walk is the same; not meant to be walked alone. God did not intend for us to be lone rangers, and we hear this all the time.

We know we have weaknesses, but that when surrounded by others, we can together pull one another up when the others fall. Or even better, when we run against someone with more strength altogether, or whose already been past the mile marker we are running on, they can help explain just how it may go, and what helped them when they were there. They can explain obstacles in the way, or again just simply let competition's drive push them in their stride to compare, match, or outrun those next to them; in all actuality just making the one next to them work harder too, at becoming better than he was before.

We are to sharpen eachother in our skills, or lack thereof. We are to train, not just hope to train, and then think we will just somehow win.

We run for a prize in these life events sometimes, but ultimately our goal should be to honor Christ, and find joy in Him through all of life's races. We are to see that all this world has fades in comparison to the joy and satisfaction that knowing GOD brings, and therefore not continually fail or allow ourselves to be disappointed when we don't match up to the world's standards. This world is not our home, we are just passin' through..as an old hymn says, and we can keep that outlook if we sharpen each other to stride our best through this life, seeing everything that comes and goes as a sharpening tool.

So as the picture in the verse I read in Psalms 19 today states, "The heavens declare the glory of God;..In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, (boasting almost), and rejoicing like a strong man to run its race." We are to be ready, prepared, strengthened, and embody the picture of strength on the race of life- as we take heed from the power of the Lord and His Word, allowing it to sharpen us along with others to run as a strong man would be after training hard. We have the tools, we must use them, and our race will be all the better for it.