by Michael Gallops <CptMG@aol.com>
How many times have you watched a race? The runners line up, stretch out and prepare themselves to take off. A gun is fired and the runners push off with all their strength, placing one leg in front of the other again and again. Arms are flailing madly and legs are pumping. One runner begins to pull ahead then falls behind. For one lap, then two, sometimes up to 6 laps, these runners race with all of their strength -- they give it every bit of effort possible. As the finish line approaches they give it an extra burst of energy pulled from somewhere inside -- fly across the finish line. Then, whether they have won or lost, they realize that they have no energy left -- they are depleted, burnt out.
On the other hand, the cross country runner -- who may line up at the start the same way, doesn't push with all of his energy -- but he does run patiently. Mile after gruelling mile he runs, plodding along at what sometimes seems like cruelly slow speeds. At the end there is a similar burst of energy as with the sprinter right up to the finish line -- usually though the cross country winner is way out ahead and finishes alone.
In a cross country race a sprinter likely wouldn't make it past the 4th or 5th mile, Likewise a cross country runner probably couldn't sprint more than a couple of laps.
Do you ever feel like a sprinter? Are you running with all your might and flailing around like crazy? Maybe God wants you to be a cross country runner - Paul ran his race with patience! Does a sprinter run with patience? Do you sometimes feel like the world is moving way to slow around you? Are you trying to plod along in your spiritual life? Maybe God wants you to be a sprinter - His burden is easy and His yoke is light run with the wind -- let your passion for God direct you!
We can learn from both types of runners. Patience is definitely a virtue -- "Plodding" along with God, taking your time, enjoying His company. But passion for ministry also is a virtue. The way you see yourself or others depends on how God has designed you. If He's created you to be one way -- don't try to be something else. Sprinter or cross country -- be happy where God has put you!
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