The Race

The recent summer Olympics in Sidney, Australia reminded me of the biblical references to Christian life as a sporting event. For example, following Christ is likened to a wrestling match (against evil), a boxing match, and a race. The apostle Paul says that Christians run the race, not as one who runs aimlessly but as one who runs intentionally, looking at the finish line ahead. It is a great way to think of being Christian. The goal is ahead of us and, like Olympians, we run always focused on that finish line. We do not look from side to side and, as a result, lose the race and not win the prize.

If you watched the games this year you may remember the female American run-ner who is legally blind. As she ran her race a commentator said she could see only col-ors and forms ahead of her (the other runners). When she ran in front she could not see anything. After the race, which she finished well enough to advance to the next level, she said that although she could not see the finish line she always knew where it was. So she ran not to what she could see but toward what she knew was actually there. She would "see" it when she crossed it. To say I admire her is an understatement.

This runner's take on running the race is exactly what, in a spiritual way, we mean by living the Christian life. Like her, we know there is a goal and, like her, we know when we are moving toward it. Like her, we have to concentrate on what we are doing so we do not stumble. Ands like her, we have to keep in shape so we do not tire out before the race is over.

Running a race is arduous. It takes determination and stamina. Living the Christian life, while rewarding, is not easy. The apostle Paul made another remark once that connects with this idea of running a race for eternal life. He said that in this life we seem to be "looking through a dark piece of glass," that is, we do not always see things clearly. Like the female runner we must follow our instincts often times. Sometimes the goal is not clear when we look ahead, but we know there is one and that the kingdom of God is there. One of my favorite spiritual writers, Thomas Merton, once wrote that knowing God is like being in a very dark room where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, yet you sense that someone is in that room with you.

Being Christian is being a person of faith. Being Christian is having confidence in God, even when you cannot "see" God clearly, when life is dark and the goal is not clear. Running the race with Christ and for Christ has its rewards, in the running and at the end. So run with confidence, and keep your eyes on the goal ahead, whether you see it or not. Like our runner, you know it is there.

Jerry Mercer