Marathon Reviews

It's been a while since I wrote here.  Time, once again, has just been going and going of course.  But I think it is important to stop and review my races and life.

3 Bridges Marathon was my first marathon. As in previous post, I have stated I was running that one for my grandmother whom I miss greatly. She sacrificed to raise me and my brother.  I ran on what would be her 90th birthday.  This was such a sweet race.  The race director having passed away just a bit earlier really brought a new layer to the race day that I was not at all expecting.  God did mighty things that day for me.  He gave me a great running friend to help me through the tough spots.  And not just any friend, but one who laid his hands on me and prayed.  Twice.  What a blessing to feel God's presence like that.  The race went great.  I finished just over 4:58 which is more than I thought was ever possible for me.  My great aunt and cousin was setting at the finish line waiting for me and that was such a wonderful part of my day.  I got tired and "over it" between mile 22.5 and 23.5. Then was ready to finish.  Got to find the energy to jump at mile 26 which was a first for me.  I never can jump at a race. 

My second marathon was Mississippi Blues two weeks later.  This one I was more nervous on.  I was running it alone.  But I met a guy at the start line that had a purpose to his running.  He ran for his daughter and all the victims of substance abuse.  Not the way you would think though.  It wasn't that they overdosed or did anything "wrong".  They were at the wrong place at the wrong time.  His daughter was shot and killed by a guy who was under the influence.  We don't always think about the other person.  We teach our own kids to be responsible with their choices, but we don't think about what can happen due to other people's choices when they are under the influence.  This guy who chose to run with me that day was such a positive light.  He shined God's grace and love.  I only ran about 3 miles of that race without him by my side.  But I know God was there the whole 26.2+ miles.  This guy's name was John.  John happens to also be my favorite book in the bible.  It is that book that I found salvation through.  John 15:3 reads "Now ye are clean through the words which I have spoken unto you."  That verse will never leave my heart and mind.  The fun thing at this race is that I never hit the wall.  I never had that mile that I was over it and wanted to quit.  John was very positive and kept me going without really doing anything specific.  I can't be thankful enough for him that day.  That day I decided that I can run marathons, that maybe I am a distance runner after all.

God is so good.  I am so thankful for the cross and what he did.  This morning as I listened to Charles Stanley on tv, I really got a remembrance from that sermon.  I am reminded that there is nothing we can do here to receive salvation. There is nothing in our works of this life that can bring up peace and eternal life.  There is nothing we can do or buy to fill the emptiness and the void that we will feel.  No matter how many relationships here on earth you go through searching for love, will you be able to find what your soul searches for.  No amount of money and no amount of stuff.  If it was about something that I can do to have eternal life, then there would've been no need for Jesus to suffer and die on that cross for me.