The story...
It's the 22nd mile of the October 17th, 1999, Detroit Marathon. A man, dressed in black and red, stood outside a bar with a table of clear cups that appeared to contain beer and wine. He offered all runners the opportunity to quit the struggle and rest - "take it easy." The guy who I was running with stopped and left me. I'm nut sure of the moment he left; but, I do remember the deep-felt sense of discouragement - left on my own. We were sharing a common goal, a pact of sorts, that we committed to along our journey. My family cheered for me before Belle Isle and I expected them at the finish line - I longed to finish.
The last game played in Tiger Stadium was September 27th, 1999. The race finished with a lap around the bags and a final step onto home plate. I heard my family, all Tiger fans, yelling for me as I stepped on the first bag - the emotion was overwhelming and wonderful. I just barely qualified for the Boston Marathon that day and actually ran that great race in the spring of 2000.
Wow ... did that really happen?
The race story reminds me of that final scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan. Ryan says to his wife: "'Tell me I've lived a good life.' and 'Tell me I'm a good man.'" I believe my finish time at Boston was precise to the second. What's the measure of a good life? Everybody's life is clearly different. Scripture says that our Creator has a will that's partially worked out through his creatures. His creatures certainly are free-willed and seem to all have a difficult time truly loving God, their neighbors, and even themselves.
The only church in town would proclaim and teach the revealed Words of God. It's a wonderful and mystical reality living safe within Christ, and the Spirit of Christ in us - the good life worked out together. Might the daily measure(s) of the quality of a Christian life be: 1. Did I love the LORD my God with all my heart, strength and mind? 2: Did I love me for who I am in Christ? 3. Did I love my neighbor as myself?
Just for today...
"Today I will remember that uncertainty is not a fault but an opportunity. Everything I do and everything that crosses my path - people, situations, ideas - all have the potential to contribute to my growth and understanding." Courage to Change (p. 69)
"Finish seems far; Pacing with him - Loved ones cheer; I fly away." Am I a Poet?
