Life is a Race

The statement, "Life is a Race" is often misunderstood by a lot of people. I first interpreted it as a literal "race", wherein I should finish first, get medals, do wonderful things -- something like that. Lately though, I've found a different meaning in life, and a different meaning to this "race" that we're all in.

Yesterday, I was jogging in our subdivision. I'm no athlete, I admit. I tire fast and sweat a little. I feel my heart beat faster. I don't wear the right jogging attire (is there even such a thing?). Anyway, again, I'm really no athlete. 

I jog leisurely. With my earphones stuck to my ears, and my glasses tucked in my jacket's pocket, I pay no mind to whatever I encounter. I pass by a little boy, imitating my stance, I guess he was mocking me. I paid no attention, though. I continued on. I pass by two boys on a bike. One of them said something to me, I think. I continue on, very much convinced I should finish my 15-minute run. 

Sometimes, the music makes me want to dance rather than jog. So there are times that I take my eyes off the road, and just look up at the sky, singing in my heart. Then my steps wobbled, and I almost tripped (good thing no one saw that). Funny, I think. I've been living in this subdivision for half of my life, yet I don't memorize the cracks, humps, and the unevenness of the road. 

So, I paid more attention to the road. I realized that I have to see where I'm going AHEAD of time, and be ready to take a step higher, or slow down a bit, in order for me to run a smooth pace. 

Relating that, we are running as well in this road we call LIFE. In this life, there will be countless of cracks and humps we have to overcome. Some will be even more than a crack, some even higher than a mere hump. But we couldn't possibly get through these cracks on our own. Because you see, often times we CAN'T see it coming. In life, these cracks come unexpectedly. And if we're not ready, we will most likely fall.

I realized I needed the Lord more than I have ever imagined.

God sees ahead of us. He sees everything. He is LIMITLESS. We humans are incapable of imagining a limitless being, because everything we see here on earth is limited. But God has NO limit. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. He is all that, and even MORE. 

So in order to be ready for life's "bumps" and "cracks", we should learn to rely on the Lord. In my case, I learned that I need Him even MORE than I already needed Him now. Trying to finish this race on my own, being blind to whatever is ahead of me, would most likely lead to a disastrous end. I know this, because I've tried it once. Now, I've realized that running this race is not just about finishing it, it's about finishing it RIGHT.

If we don't take heed to our "steps", how we live our lives, what we do daily, we will most likely fall. It's important, therefore, to be ready everyday by going back to the basics -- read the Bible, pray without ceasing, and have fellowship with other Christians. 

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
- 1 Corinthians 10:12