Mid week. Gray here. Supposed to warm up to 78. Good. It’s summer after all. Been cold this week.
Monday I shared a little about the Coeur d’ Alene Ironman triathlon. Reminded me of my one official day of being an athlete! Thought I’d share—
My parents hugged me and my siblings patted me on the back. “Good luck, Gayle,” they said, then left to take their seats up in the bleachers. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful Saturday morning for my first and only track meet I would run in junior high. I diligently performed my warm up exercises, eagerly waiting for my race to be called—the 660. For weeks I had trained after school for this one race. Besides my family, many of my classmates were in attendance. I was proud to sport my red and gold school colors. I already had the red shorts, but my mom bought a package of Ritz Dye and dyed my T-shirt gold so it would look official.
My coach, a college sophomore, was so handsome and had been extremely supportive of me right from the start. With the race soon to begin, Brian now placed his arm firmly around my shoulder. He talked to me about good sportsmanship and doing my best and having fun. His final instruction was the same as he had given to me each day in practice: “Pace yourself, Gayle, this is a long race.”
“I will,” I nodded.
“Don’t forget,” Brian said again.
No way would I forget after hearing this every single day of practice for weeks. My race was then announced and so with those parting words, I quickly withdrew to the track, assuming my lane position among the other seventh grade girls.
The shot was fired and we were off. With unbridled enthusiasm, I bolted as if running the 50-yard dash. I instantly took the lead and ran even faster! But after about 150 yards, my pace slowed considerably. I’d spent all my energy in the first few seconds of the race.
My opponents began passing me one by one. With a third of the race still to run, the other girls started crossing the finish line. One gal had run close behind me but just quit and retreated from the track. I felt humiliated, totally stupid, and wanted to quit. I wanted to run and hide, not run around this track. But my pride and self respect demanded that I finish. I jogged the rest of the distance and finally crossed the finish line . . . alone and in last place.
On Monday morning in Home Room, one of the boys came up to me. “It’s too bad you lost, Gayle, you sure started out great!” I just shrugged my shoulders and said, “Thanks.”
But had I really started out great? No, not at all! This was a distance race, a race of endurance—not a sprint. I wasn’t a fast runner and I hadn’t expected to win. What upset me was that in my adrenaline rush I had forgotten the most important thing Brian had taught me, the very thing I was just so positive I would not forget.
Pace yourself.
Running circles around the back field of my junior high play ground had been necessary practice. Still, it could not prepare me for the pressure and excitement of an official track meet with friends and family watching. Brian knew this. That’s why he reminded me over and over of the one thing he suspected I would forget.
Similarly, it’s possible to allow our zeal in serving Christ cause us to forget His instruction in the everyday experiences of life. Some circumstances may become so familiar that when the Lord “puts His arm around our shoulder” and gives us last minute counsel concerning a matter, we may dismiss Him saying, “I know, I know.” Yet if the God of the Universe thinks we need to be reminded of something, we best listen to Him as intently as if He had never told it to us before.
The Holy Spirit is our “coach” and He’s cheering us on. He wants us to finish life well and is always close by, shouting out pearls of wisdom from the sideline. We forget so easily, though, and must constantly ask Him to remind us of His precepts. Otherwise in the midst of the race, we may find ourselves lagging far behind—long before the task in which He’s called us to is completed.
“I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.” —Diane Sawyer
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. (Proverbs 8:33)