It’s the day after.  I completed my first half marathon yesterday and I can’t stop reflecting on the experience.  It was exhilarating, exhausting and satisfying.  It’s been a goal and there’s something about completing something you’ve always wanted to do that just feels good.  The amount of runners of many ages and levels that were before and after gave the feeling of a great common movement that was positive.  We were all testing our strengths.  We were keeping our individual paces and meeting new friends along the way, but all of us were moving forward in unison.  We were excited and had chosen to be part of something bigger than ourselves, but something that would also make us better.  Each runner was a comrade, a friend, a fellow runner on a journey to the finish.  On the sidelines were people cheering, offering music, encouragement and needed water.  There were places to stop if needed and places to refuel, all strategically placed and all to ensure completion.   Some participants were amazingly fast; others challenged to even participate, but each one chose to be there.  Each one wanted to be there and each one was giving there all!  As one who experienced this vast sea of humanity moving forward; the visual of this experience humbles me. It was so good!

As one who runs another race set before us in Christ; the reality of this earthly running experience strikes me more profoundly. The crown of glory that awaits us and the beauty of the spiritual race is truly amazing.  We have a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on, wanting us to win.  There are rest stops along the way to refuel and refresh, but the goal is set before us.  If you join the race to eternity, you must run!  You must participate!  The witnesses are for those who have completed this race.  We’ve got to run it!  Is it hard?  You bet!  The training, the strain, the pushing oneself beyond what you could possibly think is all part of this race, but your enrollment in the Glory Road is a call to run!   There are no passive onlookers in the race set before us, there are only fellow runners.  My time was not the fastest, but it was my best.  Giving my best is what matters.  In this Nashville race, I did not worry about other’s pace or how they ran but rejoiced that they were.  I kept my pace, I kept my focus, and I kept on going, one foot in front of the other.  I loved that everyone was running; what a picture for the Bride of Christ!  Running in unity, running forward, reaching toward the goal, the high prize, the eternal crown this is the Glory Road Race!