Marathon

 Marathon. What comes to mind?

Endurance.Strength.Goal.Respect.

I wish I could run a marathon. When I was younger, I was planning to run the 2005 Chicago Marathon, but as I increased my mileage...so my back pain intensified.  It was not to be.

Marathon.

Perseverance through training.  You can’t run a marathon without training.  Persistent training. Planning. Sacrificing for the end goal. Time and more time given to strength and prepare the body.

Marathon.

I think I might be starting one soon.

Not the exhilarating running one.  Life.  Isn’t life especially as we age a marathon?  Working in healthcare, the elderly with a compilation of trainings and a race half run present themselves.  Facing the uphill climb of an illness sometimes burdened with rocks of lost loved ones and a thirst for true companionship with no water station in sight arrive for treatment.  Is this the end?  Some strive forward while others simply sit down.

When does this marathon of life start?  For some it begins in the womb as they face obstacles and challenges that only grow once they take their first breath of air.  

Others have time to train...to prepare themselves for what is to come.  I am one of those lucky few. Have I been training well? Am I ready for the marathon that waits ahead?  So many distractions and entertainments that slow a person down.  Hours and hours of time to train is needed to run a race well and I don’t want to waste any more precious moments.  But when will the gunshot go off?  Am I ready? Have I already unknowingly entered the course? Or is this just another practice run?  I’m certain to fail except for this hope...Hebrews 12.  Truth. Strength.

I am not alone.  Just need to keep my eyes fixed on the never changing, always faithful One.