The Marathon

I ran the Twin Cities Marathon in October and it was the most challenging run of my life! It was 85 degrees and 88 percent humidity and it felt like I was running through the armpit of Hades. I found out later that over 250 people collapsed from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. I was ready to quit after only 7 miles. This was my fourth marathon, and I had never felt like that before. At that point my goal changed from setting a PR to finishing without dying. I had nineteen miles left! I couldn't even think about it, it was too overwhelming. I made myself put one foot in front of the other. I struggled, sweated, walked with cramped legs and somehow, what seemed like an eternity later, I crossed the finish line - exhausted, dehydrated, and elated that I had finished!

As I thought about that experience later, it was amazing to me how many people I have talked to in the past couple of months that are in the same position in life. They are in valley of the shadow of death and are ready to give up - forget about the calling God has on their lives, and just live a life of mediocrity. If you are at that place, take heart. There is an end to your hardship. Don't worry about how far you still have to go. Just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. You will cross the finish line, and you will know you have done your very best! Just don't give up.