Pace


Heb 12:1  ... and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 


	Doing a bit of physical running lately, I came to a realization that my 

present pace just isn't what it was at one time. I might be able to increase it 

and get it back close to the glory years of so long ago, but I had to accept 

that there was just no way I could attempt the stride or the distance that was 

once within my ability. While attempting my prior pace is beyond me, looking to 

acquire that of a real athlete is just not even a realistic consideration. No 

matter how much I might be inspired by watching sports channels of runners 

racing to victory, an attempt at immediately matching their level of speed and 

endurance would be quite foolish and probably dangerous. Even if I were to give 

myself to a lifetime of conditioning and faithfulness to diet and exercise, I 

would never be able to match the exact style and pace of the ones that so 

greatly inspire. My success to any degree would only be at a style and pace that 

would be unique to me, no matter the level of instruction and attempts at 

emulation. Other than to inspire to diligence and discipline of form, my 

exposure to great athletes will really not determine the exact nature of my 

stride. Only listening to the communication that the body would indicate with 

regard to limitations, and slowly stretching them to greater lengths, will bring 

the optimal results. As soon as another's pace, style or stride was adopted, 

there would be a disruption of progress in bringing about the full potential of 

my own ability. 


	Also, while doing my bit of running, I noticed there was something other 

than just my conditioning that was affecting my pace. I could easily have run 

the same distance without interruption and without altering my speed if it 

wasn't for those hills, changes in the surface of my path, and the heat. Ok, now 

I'm starting to just sound like a whiner with excuses, but in reality these 

things are factors that will affect anyone's ability to complete their course. 

Just one long hill in the heat can be enough to bring a halt to the run 

altogether until things cool down and rest is found in the shade. At that point, 

the thought of doing this activity on a treadmill at home in the coolness of the 

basement and watching a football game on TV seems like a much better safe and 

acceptable way to get it done. Also at that point, though, there is the rest of 

the course left to run and the challenge of completing it without calling for a 

ride. So, as visions of easily flying across the route on legs of steel are no 

longer existent, it is necessary to take on a pace that will allow just 

completion of what is left, even if that means walking or even stopping for a 

while. If only home can be reached, rest, water and a cool shower can be 

enjoyed. 


	It is so important to be inspired by the feats of others and it is so 

critical to let that inspiration motivate to activity and the development of 

personal abilities. Without inspiration, there will just be a warm spot on the 

couch that forever holds your frame, and there will never be a course completed. 

But, there is another understanding that is very essential if there is to be 

success in the activity when it is attempted. Understanding that we must be 

patient with our personal progress and not be discouraged with it in relation to 

those we might admire will allow our motivation to not be squelched. Instead, it 

can be increasingly renewed as the inspiration of our vision is changed from 

trying to be like someone else to striving to become that person that is just 

beyond where we are at the moment. Instead of trying to run their race at their 

pace, we can look patiently at the one that is right before us and take on the 

pace that will insure its completion. Knowing that there is a stride and a 

course that is very personal and uniquely ours will help to keep our eyes on 

what is right in front of us rather than distractingly somewhere else. 


	On the course of righteousness that is ours in Christ, there will be many 

opportunities to get our eyes and vision on the course and the pace that another 

person is taking. While their progress may be inspiring, it is so very important 

to not try and take on their ways completely. Sometimes there can be an 

impression given that you are not even running at all unless you are striding 

like them and going their way. However, attempts at emulation can be not only 

discouraging, but also very dangerous, as they can keep us from completing our 

own course at all. 


	There is only encouragement to be found, though, and victorious completion 

of our own course, when our eyes are shifted from others and we begin to see 

ourselves in Christ and the glory that waits for us just beyond where we are at 

the moment. Finding our identity in Him provides for concentration on what is 

uniquely ours in Him, both in pace and in course. Then, as the hills get long, 

the heat intense and the path unsure we will be able to take the stride that is 

appropriate for us, possibly even stopping from time to time, that will allow us 

to complete what is before us. 


	Continuing daily on our course and inspired by our vision of Christ, there 

will be strength and endurance developed and length to our stride and quickening 

of pace acquired that will help us to more effectively complete our course and 

even more. Successfully progressing towards that mark in Christ we will no doubt 

inspire others to find their pace and course in Him also. As we point them to 

Jesus and their identity in Him, they will no doubt find their stride to be 

quite different from ours, but yet so effective in completing the course that is 

uniquely theirs. 


Heb 12:2  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're 

	in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was 

	headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with 

	anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the 

	place of honor, right alongside God. 


6/17/04