PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

August 15, 2021

RUNNING YOUR RACE

The Tokyo Olympics are now history.  Athletes competed in 46 different sports. For seventeen days the whole world’s attention was focused on the country of Japan.  There were many feel good and personal interest stories to touch one’s heart and soul.  Some of the events were well known worldwide.  Others were so obscure that the Olympics are about the only time they receive any acknowledgement.

I watched in amazement at some of the moves the gymnasts, the divers, and skate board participants were able to do.  Who would have thought the human body was capable of such contortions?  Having done some running when I was in high school, I have a vague idea of the commitment, time, and practice it takes to compete in the long distance runs.  For many of the participants this year’s Olympics was the culmination of many years of training and discipline.  The games were a test of one’s mind, body and spirit.

Olympic Games are nothing new.  They go back to ancient Greece.  Paul makes an indirect reference to them in I Corinthians 9:24-27.  “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win it.  Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we receive an imperishable one.  So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” (I Cor. 9:24-27)

Several other places in the scripture we find life described as running a race.  “It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Phil. 2:16) “You were running well; who prevents you from obeying the truth?” (Gal. 7) “Let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:2)

As I listened to the athletes participating in the Olympics being interviewed they talked about their training and the importance of discipline.  Training and discipline are important if one wants to be a success in any athletic endeavor.  The same is true for the race that each of us run.  To reach our potential and live healthy, productive lives it is important that we be disciplined and focused on our goals and objectives.

Physically we need to practice discipline in two areas: diet and exercise.  I think every doctor I have ever visited has said that these two are the keys to a healthy life.  There are lots of diet programs from which to choose.  What is important is not so much the one we choose, but that we stick with the one we pick.  The same is true for exercise.

Successful Olympic athletes also have to disciple their minds and emotions.  To be successful an athlete can not let their emotions get out of control.  Most of the sports at the Olympics had a mental aspect that needed to be mastered if the person was to do their best.  This is also true for the race that each of us run.  We need to discipline our minds and emotions.

In the Tokyo Olympics we saw played out many life lessons that should be helpful for all us as we run our race.  They are a reminder we should run it with perseverance and discipline.