Is Your Journey a Sprint or a Marathon?

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Today I was finally able to meet with an advisor who was able to give me "the plan". "The plan" being how many credit hours I need to finish and what courses I lack in order to complete the degree. We are still waiting for official transcripts from 2 online colleges I took courses with so the numbers will have to "add up" after they "officially" receive those. We are able to use the unofficial transcripts to do figuring but I have until November 9th b/c that is the day I can register for spring semester.

So I was a little disappointed today to learn that I would have to really buckle down even both terms this summer (I was planning on attending only 1 summer session) in order to finish by December 2010. Then I thought about it for a minute and it dawned on me that I don't have to rush this process. I need to enjoy this journey and take time to smell the flowers as I go along. How many of us rush around in our life and never enjoy the journey? God didn't intend for us to live our life in a constant "I wish" or "when I get .... done" mode.

Billy Graham, probably the most influential evangelist of our time, wrote a book titled The Journey (cool how I thought of my university experience as a journey) and he states, "The journey God has given us isn't a sprint but a marathon." The message of this book is "How to live by faith in an uncertain world". The chapter titled "The Long Haul" has the comparisons of a sprint runner and a marathon runner. Allow me to share this with you from the book. "A sprint is very different from a marathon. A sprint covers only a short distance and lasts just a few seconds, while a marathon covers miles and may last for hours. But the difference isn't only one of distance or time; it is also in the amount of stamina they require from each runner. The runner in a sprint race - a 100-yard dash, for example, or a 200-meter race - pours all of his energy into those few seconds of intense activity, crossing the finish line drained and exhausted. If he had to run another 100 yards or 200 meters, he might collapse, or at least he would slow down dramatically. The marathon runner, on the other hand, carefully paces himself, not using up all his energy in the early part of the race but measuring it out, maintaining a steady rate of speed as long as possible. ......This comparison with the Christian's journey through life isn't exact, of course. We never know, for example, how long our personal journey will last; God may take you home to heaven tomorrow. The marathon runner also trains extensively (often for years) before he enters his first race. We, on the other hand, are already in the midst of the race, learning as we go along and continually drawing strength from the resources God gives us. And, unlike the runner, we do not know in advance exactly what course the path may take - although we have no doubt about the final goal."

I'd like to remind you also that God wants us to ask Him for what we need in this journey. I came across Matthew 7:7-11 this morning during my quiet time and I rejoice that my heavenly Father wants to give me good things and to enjoy the journey is part of those good things. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

Thirteen years ago, life for me was just beginning, I was a newlywed (2 years) and our marriage had started to reach a new level of intimacy. My husband, Keith, adored me and our baby girl, Hannah. I couldn't believe that I was married and a mother at the age of 20, but as a teenager all I could dream about was having a family. I never had grand dreams of being a career woman (though I did have a goal of being President of the United States) or just HAVING to HAVE a college degree right away. After high school, I followed the journey my heart desired and God blessed me in so many ways. Don't get me wrong continuing my education was important to me, I did eventually start it. I just wanted what my heart wanted and God gave it to me. Many of you do know the tragedy that occurred 12/18/96 and you also know that God changed me in many ways b/c of the loss that was endured. My life would never be the same after those few cold days in December. The year that followed taught me more about myself than any other of my 34 years. I grew up alot in that year. I finally realized that the blazing sun that shined brightly during the day was the center of our universe, not me. Yeah, that's a sad reality to state but it is the truth and it took Keith's death to teach me many lessons about my continuing journey. God has a way of dealing with whatever it is that keeps you from His best for you. This is a daily lesson in reality for me. We have to be willing to lace up our running shoes, take in God's Word daily like putting those ear buds in our ears from our MP3 player for our run, and keep pace in life just as you pace yourself during a run/jog/walk. Make sure to allow your Creator to hold the map of your life b/c He designed it and knows what's best for you. May we be found ready and trained, training daily for our journey.