Running My Race at My Pace

Last month my feet hit the pavement in a slow, steady rhythm – not too fast – not too slow – just right. I needed to get used to my pace again. After all, I had been a half-marathon runner – I can do it again! But, I had been in “feet prison” for several months because I had injured my ankle playing pickleball or was it an overdo on the treadmill or was it the plantar fasciitis – oh me! What in the world? I’ve still got RACE in me!!

RACE: a competition/contest/event/heat between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest

It seems the signs of the times are playing me! And, that little out and about walk/jog did my ankle in…..again and it’s back to the fitness center for the elliptical equipment and the stationary bike. All to stay in top notch condition as I run my life RACE! My sweet daughter has been my bike pal on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’ve had great girl time talks and it’s become one of my 2-day-a-week favorite times.

I’m quite content with this new pace of my race -- that is, until, out of the corner of my eye, I see a shapely, fit, lean older-than-me "cougar" runner with a smooth, speedy stride that I can hardly fathom AND she’s lifting weights beyond what the men are lifting. Suddenly I feel like the pace of MY race is as slow as the tortoise – not the hare! Have you ever felt the same?

We can so quickly shift from focusing on “the RACE God planned just for us” to comparing ourselves with someone else. And as every runner knows, where your eyes go, your feet (and heart and life) will follow.

The cure to comparing is "fixing" -- fixing our eyes on Jesus and consider all He went through for us. In other words, if we’re going to focus on a path besides our own, then we should think about the ONE that led to the cross. Because that changes everything. Instead of what we don’t have, it reminds us of all we’ve been given. Instead of how we don’t measure up, it reminds us of the limitless grace that is ours. Instead of self-pity, it gives us a reason to lift our hands and hearts in praise. The path to the cross is what enables us to “not grow weary and lose heart.” In other words, it helps us to keep pursuing God’s best for us and it protects us from distraction. It also reminds us that the journey we’re on is not about competition, but completion.

Theirs is NOT my RACE and not my PACE.” As the runner passes me, I repeat this over and over again in my mind. Soon Ms. Speedy Feet is out of sight. I wonder where she’s going, and I smile as I remember where I’m headed. I’m headed HOME – my cozy place of rest and comfort on this side of heaven and HOME where I belong once my RACE is finished. I don’t want to miss out on the goodness God has prepared just for me in this life. Or the next. Even if sometimes I’m a little slower and less graceful getting there.

“Let us run with perseverance the RACE marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1

Lesson Learned: Run Your Own Race -- Not Someone Else's

I do my best to run at least 15 miles a week on my treadmill and sometimes walk with friends around my neighborhood. Where my Jacuzzi tub would have been installed, I had my builder to simply put the plumbing in the wall, in case I ever wanted to install it. Instead, that’s where my treadmill is located. I’m on purpose. I know the health benefits of running/walking/jogging (i.e., staying active). I’ve been running for many years. Best of all, it keeps my goal weight intact, especially with this love of food that I have! LOL! This is MY race and I’m running it.

I have friends that regularly go to a gym, have fitness trainers, have their FitBit watches on to monitor their activity levels. I could quickly shift from focusing on “my race” – the one that’s marked for me, and start comparing myself to others. When my eyes were not on "my race", I had some major falls and it took lots of intense therapies and chiropractic treatments to get healthy enough to get back in “my race”.

Among the basics for running (or even walking) is “keep your eyes on where you are going”, instead of getting distracted. The distractions can keep us from seeing the uneven pavement, the stones in our pathway, or puddles in the road – all of which can be that obstacle that sends us tumbling. My little sweet Mama taught me that. The older she became, the more focused she was on her steps. She had too many friends with broken hips, legs or arms that came as a result of carelessness – not focusing on “their race”. The remedy is “considering” as we run our races.

It’s the same principle as we run our “life races”. Hebrews 12:1-3 says “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, FIXING OUR EYES on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith . . . Consider Him who endured such opposition so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

The cure to eliminating distractions, disappointments, weariness and from comparing ourselves to others is “considering” (aka focusing). Fixing our eyes on Jesus, CONSIDERING Him and all He went through for us, keeps us pursuing God’s best for us and protects our minds from distractions. It also reminds us that the journey we’re on is not about competition but completion. "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Yyou, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!" Isaiah 26:3

I sure want to finish my race strong, and the best, most efficient, and care-free way to do that....is keeping my eyes on where I'm going -- keeping my eyes AND thoughts on Who's waiting on me at the Finish Line! I'm running to the Finish Line set just for me, and when I get there, He WILL BE there waiting for me.....with arms open wide.