The Race Before and the Race Behind

A big "Thank You" to all those that showed their support last week. Yes, I survived the Marathon. The course was beautiful...a great way to see the higher points of San Diego. I highly recommend it. Beats those expensive bus tours!

I finished the race in my personal best time of 3:26:12. And in case you haven't seen on the meter on the side of the blog, we have raised over $3000 towards the adoption. What a tremendous blessing!

I know I've compared the adoption process to a marathon in the past, but I have to say that I believe it's harder than a marathon. At least with the marathon, you know where the finish line is. Regardless of how you get there (walk, run, crawl), once you have traveled 26.2 miles you are finished. This is definitely not the case with the adoption process this time around. We have a goal, but we don't know how far we are going to have to run to get there. In fact, we don't even know if there is going to be a finish line for us. At any point, God may just tell us that the race is closed and to get off the course. Not sure I would ever consider entering a running race like that (but could make an interesting reality TV show I guess). But here we are, and we have only run the first couple of miles.

I know the following verses is probably a little cliche at this point in time, but here goes:

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 men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

It is verse 2 that strikes me as so important. If Jesus was willingness to endure such hardship and pain for "the joy set before him", I guess I should too. And though I can't see the end, I can see Him and that's where I need to fix my eyes. Lots of distractions coming from the sidelines, though. Please pray that we do not "grow weary and lose heart"...

JP