Running With A Limp

Today's post is somewhat introspective and might appear to ramble.  If you get to the end and say "Well...there went 10 minutes that I'll never get back," don't say I didn't warn you ahead of time.

Do you remember that amazing footage from the 1992 Olympics...you know, where that guy is running and he pulls a hamstring during the race?  Don't remember? Take a gander...

This young man had done everything he was supposed to do.  He had trained, he had eaten all his veggies, he had the support of his team, his family and his country.  He was there...living out his calling...he was running in perhaps the most important race of his life.

He was doing what he loved...and he got hurt.

Isn't that the way of it sometimes?  Life is hard.  And that doesn't end just because you're a Christian.  Instead, in many ways, life just gets harder.

What's interesting to me is in the interview segments.  The commentators are all saying, "Oh, that's so painful, I never could have gotten up."

So what made him get up?

Pay attention to what Derek himself said about the incident.  He said that when the pain died down, he remembered where he was and what he was doing.

In essence, after the initial shock and pain...he remembered that he had a purpose.  And his purpose (in this instance) was to run.  So he gets up. And there...at the end...when all he could do was hop...someone comes down from the stands, puts his arm around him and helps him to the finish line.

You all already know it was Derek's daddy.

Listen friend, and you know who you are.  You stepped out in faith to run...perhaps believing that the victory would be yours this time.

And truly, it is.  Just not in the way you imagined.

The pain is probably really intense right now, but it doesn't have to end you.  When you get your breath back...remember.  Remember who you are, why you're here, and most of all...remember what you are doing.

And then get up and keep going. 

Limp, hop, crawl or whatever you have to do...but keep. going. 

At some point down the line...and maybe it's already happening...your Daddy is going to meet you on the track...and He's going to put His loving arms around you and make sure you get to the finish line.

Don't give up.

Because in this race...that's the true victory.