Wednesday, February 15, 2012

RUNNING ON EMPTY?

I'm pooped.

Yup, tuckered out, dragging my feet – beat, whipped, spent.

(Sounds like I'm making a recipe or something…)

Reminds me of something from my childhood.

Back in the day – (Neolithic Age) – we had something called the Presidential Fitness Tests. Basically, for about 3 days, we had all these challenges. Like doing sit-ups and push-ups, running and jumping and throwing.

I remember I never did very well.

I was tiny.

Short and skinny. Not a pillar of strength at all. More like a noodle of weakness.

(However, I do remember impressing everyone with my softball throw of 105 feet in 5th grade!!)

But, all these events culminated in the last day's challenge – the 600-yard run.

Oh, how I dreaded it…

I was slow, very slow. Think turtle, or snail, or slug.

And inevitably, the 600-yard "crawl" (in my case) – always made me feel sick. Nauseated, headachy, sweaty, short of breath, faint.

I walked most of it, bent over with a searing sideache.

It wasn't pretty.

Now, "The Hub" was different. That man was a regular decathlete. And he was FAST! Very, very fast. He was a sprint champion. He always ran "anchor" on relay teams. He almost always won – even when he was way behind.

He told me that he was really good at the 600-yard run. (Of course he was…show-off!)

Since we were in the same 4th, 5th, and 6th grade class together, I'm sure he was one of the (many) people that lapped me – and probably more than once.

I remembered that 600-yard run today, and thought about how tired it made me.

And I got to thinking about our spiritual race.

Yup, that faith walk varies a lot, doesn't it?

Sometimes we sprint, sometimes we crawl. Sometimes we win, coming from behind. And sometimes we're barely walking it.

There are times when we're just plain physically tuckered out, and our spiritual lives suffer. There are other times when we're spiritually weary, and our hearts suffer.

The Bible talks a lot about running the race of faith. And perseverance seems to be the key.

"…let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us…"
(Hebrews 12:1, AMPLIFIED)

I want to run a good race. Even when I'm tired. Even when I'm scared. Even when I'm discouraged.

I can't do it alone.

Only the power of the Holy Spirit can give me the strength to start the race, and the will to finish it.

Only the Holy Spirit can set the course, and keep me on track.

Only the Holy Spirit can…

I'll finish with a poem today:


RUN THE RACE

I've loved you, Lord
For all my life,
Through every toil
And every strife.

Through ups and downs
And in between,
Through tears of joy
And pain unseen.

You set the race
Before my feet,
You guide my course
Without defeat.

You give me purpose
You give me hope,
You help me run
When I cannot cope.

Some days I run
With an athlete's grace,
Some days I crawl
At a snail's pace.

But I run, oh Lord
Just as hard as I might,
Always striving
To do what is right.

Now I am closer
To the finish line,
The victor's crown
Will one day be mine.

And though my steps
Have slowed a bit,
This race I will run
I will not quit.

For You sacrificed all
On a darkened day,
You gave me light
You showed the way.

So guide me, Lord
'Til this race is done,
When the sweetest victory
Is finally won.

For the one thing I've carried
Every mile,
Was the thought of someday
Seeing Your smile.

And having you look me
Square in the face,
And say, "Faithful servant…
What a great race!"

© Sharon Kirby
April 26, 2008


Lace up, my friends.

Let's run our race well.


How are you running today?


Linked today with Joan at the GRACE CAFE


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

9 comments:

  1. Have I told you lately that I really love your poet's voice? Well I do.

    I'm both physically and spiritually exhausted these days for a number of reasons.

    Maybe that's why I spilled Smiley the mug all over Della the computer. Maybe I could sort of count it all joy if the impossibility or at least improbability of writing a blog post allows me more quiet time.

    We'll see.

    Checking in from a clunky old laptop which belongs to the office. I set it up so that I can at least try to keep up.

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  2. The only race I want to do well on is the one God and I do together. I had totally forgotten about the horrid Presidential Fitness Tests...I wasn't short, but tall and thin and lanky. I didn't do well either. Your poem is wonderful...looks like we are on the same winning team...Yipeeee!

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  3. Hi Sharon,

    Firstly, great poem. Secondly, I relate to so much of what we have written. From one crawler, running on very low battery at the moment, to another - God Bless

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  4. Awesome poem, I am trying my best to run this race successfully for my Jesus.

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  5. Blessings Sharon...(quickly...yeah, right with 6 or more to go with you, 7 with Denise, etc.)

    Running on empty! But RESTING and RECUPERATING and storing up extra energy and spiritual power for the BIG CARNAVAL that starts tomorrow until next Weds. (Ash Weds) Big Evangelism outreach time...much praying and churches uniting in this effort with YWAM at the core! So I'm filling up my tank with your great words... beautiful poem (you are so talented in writing whatever you do, simply wonderful)... but you get those naps and rest, OK. I'm still praying ... and though there is so much more I'd like to say.
    Time's a running.

    Love to you, thinking of you, missing the action (only kinda now... actually getting use to this...Ho hum(sigh)Physical strength to you as well as the spiritual, emotional and mental. We need to rely on Jesus and running His race the best we can... Runner!
    WOW! You're so amazing!!! (or your Hubs)...naw both of you, good team! Now to run this race full steam together!!! Yep, throw, crawl, run... press on! Good word!!!

    Thanks, love, hug,
    Peggy

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  6. Well Sharon I have to tell you - I am pooped too - for some reason - well I guess stress and worry does that to you - I have to turn it over to God. Love, sandie

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  7. This is a great poem, I can relate on so many levels...some days even crawling is difficult...but I continue with that goal in sight.

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  8. Great poem, Sharon! Some days the race seems too hard and I'm encouraged by the Word. What would we do without the book of Hebrews and without the Holy Spirit?

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  9. Sharon, I needed to read this today. I have been Spiritually tired of late, but I've been resting in Him. Great post and I love your poem.

    Blessings,
    Joan

    PS - I'd forgot about those Presidential fitness tests. I never was very good either.

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)