day 1330: Course Corrections

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

On Saturday of this past weekend, I completed the Phoenix Marathon, which was my eighth Marathon.  I was so excited about the race, the course, and being in Phoenix with dear friends for the weekend. I felt like this might be a race where I could shave a few minutes off of my personal best.  But, not to be.  I was almost 19 minutes worse than my best time.  The course was predominately downhill, which should make for a fast time.  You would think, right?  What looks like it can be one thing, can actually turn around and bite you. Look at this elevation map:

This map shows a 1000 foot elevation drop, but it's the first 4 miles that are of most notice. Those 4 miles at that steepness, was a killer on the quads and by mile 18 my quads were thrashed (they are still killing me).  What looks to be an advantage, can turn out to be a real disadvantage.  Just because it all looks like smooth sailing and downhill doesn't mean that things will work out for the better.  The best course is always the one that you expect, have managed before and can predict, even if they have some uphills in them.

The race that God has put in front of us requires endurance to finish it well.  If this wasn't so, Paul wouldn't have put that challenge out to us in Hebrews.  Our race (life and our spiritual life) is one that none of us have ever personally run before so each day brings a new hill, a new footing, or a new obstacle to overcome. But, what we know is that with God's support, love and grace that our course can be conquered.  Today, we start a workweek and it might be that we are still sore from something from last week or the past and we don't feel like we can climb the hills or control ourselves from careening out of control.  This is the moment to call upon Him to be there with us so that we move forward in His will and Spirit asking for guidance for each and every course correction needed. 

Reference: Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)

day 999: The Lean

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance"

When the race has been long and hard and the finish line is now in site, do we find ourselves slumping over and just making it across, or do we want to pick up the speed and finish leaned over and forward as if there is tape there for us to break?  It's a running metaphor, but one that holds up in our business life.  Projects, sales pitches, deals, people issues, career changes, strategy development, product launches, growth plans, financial modeling, all of these and more are races that we we run every day and how we finish is important because that is what brings us back again and again. Part of the long race, and the successful completion, is knowing within ourselves that we are well trained and ready.  Drawing upon those hours, days, weeks and maybe months of preparation to say to ourselves, "I got this", is part of the success.  Has your company done the necessary work to finish strong?  Training, development, encouragement, process, commitment, mechanisms for rewards and recognition all play into this preparation.  Think about it.

Paul tells us to rejoice in the difficult parts of the race because he knows that it is in these moments that endurance is built.  He is talking about the ultimate life race that we are to finish well.  As we start this week, think about it as a race to be run.  Watch, listen and feel how the hills roll this week.  Then be sure and get ready for the trials that inevitably come, but instead of letting those get you down, instead lean into them and know that this where the endurance that that the Lord wants us to have comes from.  Start strong and finish strong this week!  He is there with you in all His glory!

Reference:  Romans 5:3 (New Living Translation)  

day 942: Marathoning, Part 3 - Endurance

"...let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Summer is always a good season for me to think about the importance of endurance.  Maybe it is watching the Tour de France and being totally blown away each year with the endurance that it takes to compete and complete that race.  Or, it is the build up of miles for a Fall marathon.  In this year, I am excited to watch all of the endurance events in the Olympics and see how the athletes prepare and race when the moment comes. Work is a marathon too.  26.2 miles is a lot like all of the year we work looking for a finish line.  Companies must sign up for the marathon or fear that they will come up short when a competitor continues to be there.  Endurance is about training, fitness, pacing and mental strength.  How many times do we sit down a year and think about where our business will be in 5-10 years and how we will get there, or more importantly, how are we readying ourselves to get there?  We would be best to always think in terms of a marathon to be run and be sure we are ready for the long run that is work and business.

Paul tells us to run with endurance, but not just run with endurance any run, but to run the race God has put before us.  Paul does not tell us the distance of that race, but we know that the race of being human does not stop and lasts a lifetime.  We have a marathon of faith to run, if we so choose to enter that race.  Let's consider that each step we take, at home, at work, with purpose or for leisure is about the race and the finish line that God has set before us. Let's think today about the different aspects of our lives that are either keeping us moving forward or setting us back and deal with each accordingly so that we may have the endurance to complete the full race and so with God's favor!







Reference: Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)