Looking ahead with hope

Until I started running, I didn't realize how much of a mental exercise running can be. See, when running, you always have the choice of slowing down to a walk. Struggling for air? Why not just walk a bit? Muscles telling you they don't like what they're doing? Slow down and take it easy.

But when I'm going for a run, I'm not going for a walk. It's not a pleasure stroll. I try to absorb the beautiful views, because I'm not going to stop or slow down to take a picture.

I only started running a couple of years ago. It started out as a random curiosity: if I started running, would I like it? I found I did, and I found I enjoyed the challenge of pushing myself to conquer hills and go further distances.

But I also found that I didn't feel like running every time I went out for a run. Some days I would negotiate with myself during the first mile, telling myself, "if we're not enjoying this after a mile, we'll just go home." I'd set my focus on doing that first mile. But reality is, by the time I finish the first mile, I've hit a groove and I don't want to stop anymore. 

The other day I was in the last mile of my run, listening to Philippians 3, and this popped out clear as day:

"This one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind, I press on toward the goal..."

It hit me. I had just rounded the last corner before home, and my thoughts were all focused ahead of me. Maybe later I'd contemplate the run, after finishing, but you don't think about the previous hill while climbing the current one. And there are many things in life where we focus forward, not behind. Can I do something hard for one year? How about for one month? We take pleasure in accomplishment, but when striving to accomplish something, we have to be focused on the future.

Serving overseas requires focusing on the future. You know that life will hold challenges, but there's a confidence that He who began a good work will complete it. And we press on toward the goal. As Jim Eliot said, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." 

Press on. Be all there. Look ahead to the glorious future.