THE THREE PARTS OF A MARATHON

I have run two marathons in my life. Both 26.2 miles, one in Munich and one in Berlin. I was training for my third when a neck injury forced me to retire from the sport. I loved running marathons. It was great fun training for the events and there a tremendous feeling of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line.

When I ran these long races, it was easy for me to break the race into unequal thirds. The

FINISHING IN MUNICH

first third (from the start to mile 10) was pure excitement. The spectators, decorations, the whole atmosphere was exciting.  It was hard to run at my average pace because I wanted to run much faster. However, I knew if I was going to finish well, I would have to maintain a steady pace.  The first third was about resisting the temptation to run as fast as I could and just have fun. It was all about my mind telling my body to maintain the pace and allow the other runners to pass me. This was not easy.

The second third (miles 11- 20) was a different kind of enjoyment. In this part of the race there was a deep sense of engagement. There were fewer spectators, the decorations were gone, runners were spread out, and I was in a good rhythm. This was when I experienced a runner’s high. Running was easy and natural. During these nine miles it felt like my feet never hit the pavement, it was like running on a cloud. The sky was a deeper blue than I ever had seen before, the clouds fluffy and white. Everything was easy and beautiful.

FINISHING IN BERLIN.  I am number. 219

During the last third of the race (mile 21-26.2) EVERYTHING HURT. The hurt was not bad a first, just a loss of the feeling of euphoria. But every half mile after the 21st mile everything became more difficult. My feet began to hurt, then my ankles, then my whole body. By mile 25 my body and mind were at war with each other. My body was demanding that we quit, and my mind insisted that we keep running. Finishing well was difficult.

FINISHING WELL

Crossing the finish line was deeply satisfying. I could stop running. My body was really happy, and they put a medal around my neck, which brought about a deep sense that I had accomplished something significant. There was a band, great refreshments, and friends and family who were waiting for me at the finish line. Soon after finishing, I felt totally relaxed, with deep sense of pride and accomplishment.

I have been thinking my life has some of the same feel as a marathon. For the first ten miles (ages 0-30), everything was a new adventure: finishing high school, joining the US Navy, getting married, having kids, finishing college, starting my career. All new and all exciting. I was running fast and enjoying the adventure.

The next ten miles (ages 30-64) were just like the middle of the race. I had a sense of who I was and where I was going. I was enjoying the adventure: living in Germany, going to graduate school, pastoring Change Point, and enjoying the prestige of being part of the senior leadership at Cadence. I was enjoying the adventure without feeling like I had to do more than what was before me. My life had a nice pace to it.

I am now at mile 21 entering into the last part of the race. I am just starting to hurt. I have to admit that I have high blood pressure, and I have had two heart ablations. This is just the beginning, of course. Over the next 20 years my body will develop more problems.

I still love the work that I do, but I am slowing down.  In the past I have led large groups and I was busy with a lot of activity. Now I am working with fewer men and women, and there is less activity. I am not done with the race, I have at least five miles to go, and I want to finish well. But now my mind is entering into more conversations with my body about what is really possible. Last week I was asked if I would consider an overseas assignment that would involve a larger ministry. I responded that I am open to God’s call on my life to go wherever He calls me, which is true. But as I have thought more about the possibility of living overseas again, I think that ship has sailed. I could be wrong, and if anyone seriously offered me a position overseas, I would consider the offer, and ask for God’s guidance. However, I don’t think I am in a place where I can live overseas and lead a large ministry.

RUNNING FOR THE PRIZE

When I was running marathons, and I was between miles 21 and 26, I missed the excitement of the first part of the race, and the runner’s high of the middle of the race. But there was no going back. I had to accept where I was and press forward toward the goal. Now, 65, I miss the excitement of pastoring a large group, of flying across an ocean and around the country, and I miss being an important person on leadership teams. But there is no going back. I am going to run the best race I can between sixty-five and when God calls me home. But I don’t want to pretend that I am in the middle of the race.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul tells us to “Run in such a way as to get the prize” and to discipline ourselves to run the best possible race. This is my goal, to discipline myself to run these last few miles so they are the best possible miles.  This is my prayer for you, wherever you are in the race of life, that you discipline yourselves and run in such a way as to get the prize.