In Portland 07, my theme song was "Wait upon the Lord" by Lincoln Brewster which is not on my ordinary play list. But I kept running into it the week before and it played continuously through my head during the entire race and I had the kind of race that leaves you scratching your head at the finish line because it was so easy and painless. It was the perfect object lesson to how, as a Christian, when I wait upon the Lord and run within HIs will and by the strength He provides, my way is easy and my burden is light.
Eugene 08 was about following the Lord. I have never followed a pace leader and for some reason I found myself behind the 3:45 guy and feeling great...as long as I kept my eyes on him. This was a Hebrews 12:1-2 object lesson..."Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. [fn] He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward." (NLT) I pictured the pace leader as Jesus, fixed my eyes on him, and at the finished, he turned around, ran the 10 yards or so back to me and ran me in saying "you are finishing strong." I get teary just thinking of that one! If that guy had only known what I just learned...and Who he had just represented to me.
So this last week, I was inundated with the song "The Motions" by Matthew West. He has a page dedicated to this very song where people can post their desire to forgo complacency in their Christian walks and live for Jesus. I pictured myself running with Jesus...leaving all of me on the course...giving it all I had. I just didn't picture it with cramping legs, throbbing feet, an upset stomach, three port-a-potty breaks and almost throwing up on my way back to the Hotel. I didn't hear from God, didn't ever feel Him with me and I was most disappointed in that...not my painful yet mediocre finish time. But then, when we left the hotel and got in the car to leave, what song came on the radio at that moment? Yup, The Motions. I listed again to the words carefully and it hit me and I began to cry. It wasn't about giving the race all I had and running blissfully with Jesus...that would have been nice, but it also had a very personal and worldly goal in it. It was about how my life would be if I just go through the motions of living for and with the Lord, but having my own ideas of how that is done and no Him. God called me to run...but it wasn't for my glory (which He has taught me before)...it was and still is for His. Needless to say this song was very certainly the theme song for this marathon. It was from the Lord. And it was an object lesson. It just wasn't what I envisioned and I'm so glad. For it is truly so much sweeter this way! Thank you Jesus, for my painful and mediocre finish today.
Here are the lyrics below. You can also listen on line at:http://www.matthewwest.com
This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
Chorus
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
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