Never Quit

Have you ever had one of those days when you just wanted to throw in the proverbial towel and say, "I can't go on!"?  I would suspect for some, the events leading up to the use of the above phrase involved a project at work, or around the house; might have been associated with the efforts to rehabilitate an unreliable automobile, garden plant, business partner, or, unfortunately for some, a marriage partner.  There are no doubt some who came to use these three words because of events in their faith or worship.  And then there are those who come to this end with their physical and/or mental wellbeing.  I am certainly not in a position to judge any of the above and am so thankful for the life I have been privileged to enjoy.

Sometime during the first century AD, as he most likely sat in a very uncomfortable prison cell, Paul of Tarsus wrote to friends in Corinth.  Paul had probably received word that some of the believers in Corinth were considering the temptation to say "I can't go on".  It is important to understand that Paul was a very educated man and had experienced a great deal in his life, including athletic events of various types.  It was from one of the track competitions which Paul chose to write, Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize?   Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one- [I Cor 9:24 & 25]

In July 2007, Jerry Crowe recounted (as have others) the event which occurred on 05 August 1984 in Los Angeles, CA.  "Anyone who has seen it probably has never forgotten it...a 39-year-old ski instructor who grew up in Switzerland, cut a ghostly figure as she entered the stadium.  Suffering from heat prostration...she limped and lurched around the track, holding her head and alternately stopping and restarting as the crowd groaned. Her left arm flailing at her side, her right leg unbending at the knee, she nevertheless waved off medical assistance, which would have meant her immediate disqualification.  Finally, after navigating the final 400 meters in an agonizing 5 minutes 44 seconds, Gabriela Andersen-Schiess fell into the waiting arms of three medical staffers as she reached the finish line (26 miles, 385 yards) in 37th place, 24 minutes behind winner. 

Here's what I see reflecting in the mirror on this one.  To receive an OLYMPIC gold medal (or any medal) is an accomplishment to be held in highest regard for the price which the athlete pays is extremely high. However, it wasn't until I began searching for the video clip that I remembered who had won the first modern era women's OLYMPIC marathon - Joan Benoit.  Her victory had, in Paul's words, perished from my memory bank.  But the efforts of Gabriela Andersen-Schiess had become permanent.  In my mind she is a prime example of running to achieve the imperishable. AND,

When it comes to matters of our faith and our family, we should remember that there are some things out there, that although they seem quite glamorously attractive, so many of them are perishable.  We should invest more in our personal faith and in our family.  We may be surprised at the priceless (imperishable) memories and relationships we will achieve.  

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