Running The Race

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting Mom and Dad since it was Carnaval here in Panama, and I had the week off from work. I was fortunate to be able to make the trip from Panama to Charlotte to check in and see how they were doing.  It was so great to see firsthand the progress Dad has made.  Although it has been a very difficult road, there IS progress.   I was also reminded that although we had hoped for a sprint to recovery, we are in the midst of a marathon.


Back in September, I saw a guy who was running along the Panamerican Highway, as we were on our way to the beaches on the Pacific side of the isthmus.  I later learned that this guy had started at the North Pole and was running all the way to the South Pole!  Can you imagine?

This is one determined guy!  He had a whole entourage with him to include an ambulance following him from behind and a motor home waiting for him up ahead.  After I saw him, I wanted to know more, so I looked up his story online.  You can too by going to www.poletopolerun.com   A few weeks ago, after running approximately 2 marathons per day for over 10 months, with no days off, this runner achieved his goal and finished the race – he reached the South Pole!

I see a lot of parallels between this story and Dad’s story.  Dad has been through a lot.  He continues to “run” his race, little by little, one step at a time, and one day at a time.  It is a marathon and not a sprint.  He is working hard.  There are lots of folks along the way that have been instrumental in helping him get to where he is now – doctors, nurses, therapists, friends, family.  Some of the help has been seen, much of it has been unseen (phone calls, prayers, notes, random acts of kindness, etc).  My mother has faithfully been by his side serving as the “ambulance” behind him and the “motorhome” waiting up ahead.  No matter how difficult the challenge, Dad has pressed forward.  He has not given up.  He has worked hard and hung in there when it didn’t seem like he could go any farther.  As a result of his persistence and God’s grace, he is progressing.  We don’t know exactly how long it will take him to make a full recovery; however, we do see progress, and we’re grateful for that.  Dad’s life these days is very much about taking things one day at a time - then after weeks and even months, we can look back and see progress.  He is doing everything he can at this point to “run” the race that he has been given, and he’s doing a great job.  Thanks to all of you who have been supporting our family throughout this journey.  It has made all the difference.  Please continue to pray that Dad will continue to have the energy and stamina to “run” the race, and that God would continue to bring healing to his body.

I’m not sure what your particular race is at the moment.  Perhaps you too are facing a difficult challenge.  Be encouraged that God only asks us to do our best, and He’ll take care of the rest.

Blessings,
David

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.