Coeur d’Alene’s Ironman

Did y’all have a good weekend?

Coeur d’Alene, ID hosted the Ironman triathlon yesterday. I decided not to enter this year. Or last. Truth is, I never will enter it. I can’t even comprehend swimming 2.4 miles, then jumping out of the water to hop onto your bike to cycle 112 miles and then, when most folks would be flat out dead, run a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Ironman (woman) is right! Unbelievable!

1,760 triathletes from around the world competed right here in my own backyard. Winners’ times were 8:23:29 (men) and 9:59:08 (women). In honor of them, so I could call myself an athlete, too, I rode my bike about 11 miles yesterday afternoon. Now that was a nice bit of exercise. Felt great. For the Ironman athletes, however, that would be like a stroll from the kitchen to the living room! I do plan on riding much farther than that most rides this summer.

I can’t even fathom such strength, endurance and perseverance such a competition requires. If they are willing to make the necessary monumental daily sacrifices to train as they do for a prize that is only temporary and of no eternal value (though something certainly to be proud of), how much more should I, as a Christian, run my spiritual race with endurance? My prize is the crown of life. Heaven. Spending eternity with Christ Himself!

What I love about God, though, is He’s not asking me to do this in my own strength. Knows I can’t. Nobody can win this metaphorical race without the wind of the Holy Spirit at our backs. God through Christ gives me the strength to run the race set for me each day. My race is not the same as yours. We’re each on a different course. My goal is not to beat your time. Or accomplish what you accomplish. I am to be obedient to what God has called me to do. Scripture tells me that I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do. That is so cool to me. Gives me purpose. Gives me a reason to run.

Today’s the beginning of a new week. An opportunity to trust God in a new and deeper way. A fresh start. I want to run my course with endurance. Walk in God’s grace. Breathe it in moment by moment.

It’s raining outside. How gracious of God to give the triathletes a beautiful day yesterday to compete. Today it would have been more difficult.

Have a good day all.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)