Running the Race

I just returned home from a rather successful agility trial with my youngest dog, Sammy.  He qualified in 2 of his 3 runs.  Beautiful work!  As I'm often reminded, though, mid-course, I can never "let up" as I handle him; I need to focus on the approach to each obstacle and make sure he can "feel" me pushing him in a specific direction.  The second I do, he'll either pull away from an obstacle, or miss an important contact, (causing a fault or off-course) or give me a lot of barking as if to say "you don't know what you are doing - you're making me mess up!"

Today, I am reminded of this passage from Hebrews 12: 1-3:

 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful people, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

There are days I really don't want to be a Christian.  I don't want to pay the cost of discipleship - I want to let up and let things be easy.  But I am reminded in both this passage, and in running agility, that every goal in life requires work, and we are never really "finished."  To live a faithful life means persevering...even when I'm tired, even when I feel like "enough is enough" today, even when I don't feel like there is any gas left in the tank.

Today, I am thankful for a loving and merciful God who forgives me for going a bit "off course" at times, and is there to help me thru the next day as I begin a new race once again.