My Better Half

I’ve learned over the years to listen to my wife. Sherry is what Proverbs 31 calls a virtuous woman, and that includes her being filled with wisdom. After completing a full marathon last year, I was thinking of doing it again. But Sherry recommended I cut back a little. The upside is that I didn’t have to run up to the top of a small mountain and could stay pretty level. Today I enjoyed—really enjoyed—running the Coeur D’Alene Half Marathon. The weather was perfect, the view along the lake was reminiscent of visiting the Sea of Galilee, and there were plenty of wonderful people to meet and encourage along the run.

Once again, I pulled out 25 trusty scriptures that I have loved over the years and recited them to myself. That was two per mile, and then I would go back and include the previous scriptures that led up those two. It kept my mind focused on God’s goodness, and included great words from David, Jesus Christ, Peter, and the Apostle Paul. Along with bottled water and protein gel, it gave me what I needed to succeed.

Some of the people were amazing who shared the course with me. Dawn, six months pregnant, was a real trooper and kept up a steady pace. Sunny was a pacesetter for other runners, and kept me company for a while at the beginning of the race. We talked about Australia since Sherry and I had a two year “honeymoon” there, and she and her new husband had gone there as well. Plenty of other runners offered encouragement, and I was able to help some who seemed a little weary get back to a good pace. All in all, it was a huge blessing.

I want to thank many people who prayed for me during the run. That includes my brothers and sisters, co-workers at our charter school, some friends on a weekly video call, our son Elijah and his family, and my dear Sherry. I was able to pray for every runner I could see whether they were coming or going. I loved that I could positively help them on their way.

I guess this wouldn’t be complete without a few “running” verses. Here are some I love.

Isaiah 40:30,31:
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalms 18:29:
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

1 Corinthians 9:25:
A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever.

Hebrews 12:1,2:
…we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.
We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

Happy running the race of life! God bless you.