Steady Eddie (All The Way To The End)

“Slow and steady wins the race.”

This well-known phrase from the classic Tortoise and the Hare has been part of our cultural vernacular for years.

When I ran track in high school, I had a teammate who took these words to heart. Apparently…

She always ran the 800M race (two laps around). She usually was the only entry we had in this race. We were always outnumbered in this event. She donned the lone royal blue jersey in a sea of orange, purple and navy.

And every single time (well to the best I can remember), she lost.

But what always impressed me was the way she ran the race. She never blasted out to the front. She simply started running, hit her desired pace, and kept moving. She definitely was the most consistent runner in every 800M race. She never seemed to speed up nor did she ever seem to slow down.

Unlike many other runners, including myself, who would burst out the blocks only to “hit the wall” about half way through their respective race, my friend was steady. Never blinked, never faltered, never rattled by the opponents (some who would even lap her from time-to-time).

She simply ran her race. Whatever the outcome.

Christians and non-Christians alike, often try to live life running a million miles a second trying to cram too much in an already full calendar.

For a contrasting example, I was talking with a mother who was told that she was “ruining her kids lives” because the mother didn’t put her boys in 6-year-old Little League Baseball because they were already playing a different sport in the Fall.

People of all ages and in all industries feel this pull to do everything.

But what if we simply ran the race of life with intentionality. Instead of trying to win at all costs, what if we ran well. Intentional. Purposeful. Selfless. Humble.

Acts 20:24 finds the apostle Paul leaving Ephesus and heading toward Jerusalem. In his farewell to the Ephesian elders, he says, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.”

Everyone will run this race of life differently, but what is most important is not who finishes “first” but rather if you ran it purposefully for the glory of Jesus and the task He has given us – to make Him known and bring Him glory.

Don't worry about all the people flying past you destroying themselves. You remain steady. You remain focused. You remain consistent. Running toward Jesus.

Anyway, I was just thinking...