it's a marathon

i know lots of marathoners. i, however, am not one of them.  my sisters have both run marathons, my husband, many of my friends, and last year, even my son. but not me. i am not destined to that rockstar category or cut from that kind of commitment cloth. i’m a sprinter. [and not a fast one at that]. don’t get me wrong, i’m about as competitive as they come, but i like the short race, the short game, the quick result. i like to walk away with a trophy or a ribbon or at least a little sweat and move on to the next thing.

i think that’s why i’m struggling a bit with where we are in our covid-19 pandemic.

i thought, by now, it would be all wrapped up.

i thought it might be over.

i thought we’d all be moving on.

but, clearly, we aren’t.

and from much of what i’m hearing, this woman who prefers a sprint has found herself and her entire world smack-dab-in-the-middle of a marathon.

even as we “make the best of it,” and “count our many, many blessings,” it is clear, our globe is growing collectively wearier by the moment. i felt that creeping in this week. ask my kids and husband about the grumpy lady living in their house. they’ll tell you. i don’t marathon well. i want to sprint my way right through this and move on.  i want to see my son graduate from college, i want to watch my littlest one dance in her recital, i want to visit my out-of-state family, i want to take my 30th wedding anniversary trip with my husband … heck, i just want to walk into the grocery store without the creepy movie feeling of mask covered customers.  

please do not hear complaint, hear my candor. i am certain even with these disappointments they pale terrifically in comparison to the heart-crushing stories stretching hard across our world. mine are mine, but, they are minor.

i woke this morning shrouded in that heaviness. burdened deeply, even before the sun showed her face. but in God’s goodness and perfect timing, He led me to this scripture from hebrews:

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” hebrews 12:1 & 2

eight years ago, when our oldest son, tyler, graduated from 8th grade, i was asked to give the graduation address and guess what scripture i used? yep, this very passage from hebrews. i reminded those 14 year old graduates that we couldn't possibly know what "the race marked out for us" might look like, but we can know the way to run "eyes fixed on Jesus," and, our thoughts as well, "consider Him." whatever our race, He is always the way through it. those 8th graders are now graduating this month from college, without any pomp and circumstance, mind you, but with a better understanding of the race marked out for them. what a strange time for them to enter the world of work and adulthood. i'm not sure any of their 16+ years of education could have prepared them for this.

it was good for me to remember that little talk. i needed to give it to myself this morning. 

and though, i’m convicted, i’m also newly encouraged to keep on keeping on. not by my own strength — heavens no! but to keep my eyes on Jesus. to remember the cross He carried so that all of our daily crosses and crises and, even our complaints and disappointments—however big or small—can be handed over to Him. 

we don’t know how many miles this marathon might prove to be, but we can know with certainty that victory is possible. not just at the finish line, but possible in each and every day. because of Him. 

weary ones, i don't know the exact race you are running. i'm sure some of you are facing hills harder and miles longer than i could even begin to imagine. but God's hope and His cross are for all of us—regardless of who we are are or how fast we run. whether you are made to marathon, sprint or just amble along slowly, i do hope this has offered you a bit of encouragement today. fix your eyes on Jesus. consider Him. 

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings like eagles; 

they shall run and not be wear;

the shall walk and not faint.”  

isaiah 40:31