STORIES

THE RACE

The race begins
as the people shoot through the gate
Several run side by side
No one appearing to have the advantage
The sweat pours from their bodies
Their focus;
simply the next step
and then the next
and the next ...
The people have raced before
They have seen victory and experienced defeat
They hardly notice the crowds which have come to watch
No, their eye is on the finish line
There's pushing;
a little shoving and two men fall

There won't be time
to rise and run once more
They have defeated themselves
Another takes a drink from a bystander
but waits too long to time the next step
and already is off-stride, out-of-balance
behind
Two young people fight for the lead
Their legs burning, arms pumping
eyes determined to see them through
but wait...
There is no victory tape
There is no finish line in sight
All has been removed
and the crowd dispersed

Is the run over?
Has the race been cancelled?
There are footsteps behind pounding the pavement
and yet, how far do we run?

I look at the one next to me
and he seems not to notice that where
the finish line once was
there is no one
He runs and focuses on some point in the distance
Surely, I won't run for nothing
and forever

I came to win, but if there is no way to determine
who wins, why run?
~
Is this how your life seems?
You run and run and run
and just when you expect "the reward"
for your hard work
there appears to be no end
no gratification
no applause from the people
no congratulations

Was your eye on the finish line, itself,
or is there a greater race to be run?
THE RACE
where our eyes are set and focused
on the Lord Jesus Christ
and He is our Goal
He is our Race
He is our Perfect Run

We are to be as He is
We are to run in step with Him
His Breath becomes our breath
His Strength takes over, not only our weakness,
but our human strength
His Heart beats rhythmically
as we run

Let's run this Race
this last and final Race
with our eyes, our heart, our soul, our entire being
fixed on Jesus, Himself
Let's let Him take over
Let Him Rule
Let Him empower
Let Him be our
ALL IN ALL

He is our Race
We are to become as He is
We are to empty ourselves and allow Him
to be the Runner within
The RACE
The Beginning and the Finish Line
~ ~
Run your Race with me, God
Run Mighty
Run Strong
May I ever be
available
for the
Fullness
of
Your Life
in Me

BREATHE
on me
until I am
the Perfect fulfillment
of Your Heart's Desire

You are the Race
You are the Goal
You are Life

Enter me
and run Your Heart out!

* * *
RACES OF THE HEART

A CHILD'S RUN

THE BRIDE'S RUN

THE MASTER'S RACE

HIGHER, FASTER, STRONGER

* * *

"In the Heavens
He has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom
coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course."
PSALM 19:4-5


IX