Finish It!

I started running later in life, well beyond the years of cross-country or track eligibility. That’s why my newly acquired position of cross-country coach is so ironic. To be honest, I think the only nonnegotiable requirements for the position were breathing and a “yes!” A friend of ours is the professional coach and she thankfully knows what she’s doing. I’m leading the boys but learning a lot in the process.  

Coaching middle school boys is more about getting them to stop flicking boogers on each other. Major aspirations indeed! They’re great runners and human beings; they’re just boys. I haven’t flicked a booger on someone in a while, but I do have a goal for the season too. With a newly minted teenage daughter, I’m infiltrating the ranks to have eyes and ears in the field or in the school hallway. I told those boys that if someone even accidentally looks in Evelyn’s direction, I need to know about it. I’m smarter than I look. 

When it comes to running, these boys are pushing me. I may be able to take them over a higher mileage race, but 4000 meters is a unique distance that requires a lot of endurance and a strong push to the finish. It’s enticing to come out strong at the start, but I’ve watched many people fizzle out in the last 500 meters. It’s painful to see because the desire is still on their face, but the legs just won’t cooperate. 

It’s another real-life example of prioritizing a strong finish over a fast start. A flash in the pan can make a good show but it’s the long-burning embers that produce lasting results.

A cross-country meet is a microcosm of life and a great reminder of the Christian life. During practice this week, the boys and I discussed grit as we ran. I said, “Boys, do you know what grit is? Grit is sticking with it when you want to quit.” Grit doesn’t get a lot of press, but it should. It’s the secret sauce to great success! If you want to set yourself apart from the pack, you must be willing to do what the rest of the pack is not willing to do. It’s summed up by the phrase, going the extra mile. The Bible captures this idea through the character trait of endurance. 

During my seminary days, my vision of future ministry involved grand stages and fog machines. Vain I know but I’m being honest. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a large ministry, but a few years in the megachurch movement and the reality of ministry has shifted my vision. I’m convinced for the better. I consider heroes of the faith like Dr. Hap Struthers and Dr. Gene Getz (a mentor of mine from Dallas) who are in their 90’s and still loving and serving Jesus with all they’ve got. These are examples of people who are finishing the race strong! This is the litmus test of success. Anyone can make a splash in the moment, but grit over the long haul epitomizes the value of endurance! 

We’ve all been given the charge to run our race well. That’s how the Christian life is often described. God gives us wisdom through His Word that we will need endurance to accomplish this task. We aren’t running the race to achieve our salvation but in anticipation of the eternal reward that awaits us. An imperishable treasure that we’ll enjoy in the presence of Jesus forever! Let’s run the race that’s before us today!