Life’s a Marathon

It was Patriot’s Day in Massachusetts, and “J”, Baby, the Schmooze, Mayhem!!, and I found ourselves standing on the sidewalk cheering people on in the Boston Marathon. We were in Natick, which is at mile eight of the twenty-six mile marathon.

All the contestants, all 32,000 of them, are released in waves. There are waves of elite men and elite women (these are the pros), amateur men and women under 50, and amateurs over 50. It is impressive to watch, and you can’t help but get caught up in the cacophony of cheering.

The first wave through were those in sophisticated wheelchairs. These contestants go first because they cover the marathon route faster than any other group using inky their arms. They finish in about an hour and twenty minutes whereas the elite runners finish slightly over two hours. Amazing and inspiring!

Deeply moving were the tandems of runners pushing wheeled carriers containing individuals with special needs. These dedicated runners are expressing a love that can only be seen as divinely inspired. It’s hard enough to run twenty-six miles, but pushing a three wheeled carriers containing another adult had me getting weepy.

But the most fun came as we tracked “our” runner. My sister’s brother-in-law was in the over fifty wave; he’s 51. He has been running since he was a kid and this is his second Boston Marathon. He’s the tall skinny guy in the blue shirt in the picture above. Look at the smile! He was thrilled to be there at mile eight. I am told he wasn’t as thrilled at about mile twenty, known as Heart Break Hill, but he finished the race!

Our lives of faith are like a marathon. There are moments of astounding joy and moments of heartbreak. Sometimes we need special courage and equipment to help us finish well, and sometimes we need someone who loves us enough to transport us the whole way. We are amateurs and professionals, young and old, male and female, all running the same race together.

And best of all, SOMEONE is waiting for us at the finish line with his arms wide open ready to catch us in our fatigue!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV