Finished Before the Start

Two people stand side by side in the big city marathon awaiting the starting gun. The first is mapping out the course in her mind, setting the tempo before ever taking the first stride, anticipating the gun, the rush of bodies moving rythmically together, the accomplishment of each mile marker, envisioning the finish line and the joy of completion. The second person, too, is anticipating the starting gun, wondering what on earth he's gotten himself into, if he'd trained enough, if his feet will ever quit hurting, whether he can even make it to the 13th mile marker, let alone the finish line, anticipating the pain in the legs, the tightness in the chest, the loneliness of the road for the next several hours.

Which one does the best? It's hard to tell, but it doesn't matter who comes in first, one will enjoy the challenge of the marathon, the other will not. One is in it for the challenge, the other isn't sure why. Both will embrace the finish line, only one will enjoy the race.

Which one are you?

Okay, so I've never trained and ran a marathon. I've thought about it and then thought better about it. I've never been much of a runner. Tried it, hated it. I'm not talking about running anyway, rather about anything we do.

"Here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live." (Eccl. 5:18-20, The Message)

That's what Solomon figured out. Sure he had a lot to enjoy as King, with all the stuff he had, but at the same time he had been very dissatisfied with life (as the book of Ecclesiastes reveals.). What he discovered, though, was about the attitude in which we live, that it makes all the difference. I believe that if you view life with a good attitude, you will find much joy. But to view life with pessimism leads to discouragement and a "see I knew this would happen" outlook. They're done even before they even start!

Now, I'm not a "glass half full" type of person, I'm a "hey, there's still water in the glass!" guy. To me, it's all about attitude.

God has given us so much. It's ours to enjoy, so we should! But at the same time we must remember from whom it came. God wants us to enjoy what He has given and not worry about tomorrow. What we do with today is so much more important.

Today is started. Anticipate the rush of possibilities. Breathe in deeply God's blessings and enjoy it!

Peace ><>
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