Running Well |
Nov 14, 2009 |
When I lived in a town that billed itself as the Track Capital of the United States (Eugene, OR), I was exposed to the sport of track and field. You couldn’t escape seeing people jogging throughout the day or catching a glimpse of world class runners during track season. Running wasn’t just an event; it was a way of life.
There were many running clubs and groups that you could be a part of. People joined, or gathered, because they needed exercise, wanted fresh air, had to get into shape, desired friends etc., but most importantly because they loved to run.
In a community who had seen and known many of the world’s greatest track athletes, none was more widely known than a gentleman named Marv. Every day, if you were driving through town, you would most likely see him and his running group doing what they loved best.
Recently, I attended Marv’s funeral. He ran every day until brain cancer ended his life. He ate all the right foods, had the best shoes, wore the most aero dynamic apparel and charted his times to know how well he was doing each day. In his honor, at this service, his family (children and grandchildren) wore running shoes and t-shirts from events he had participated in. Many who had run with him, and had seen him win numerous age group awards, came to share their thoughts about the impact he had made upon them.
Running was a way of life for him, but it wasn’t his life. His life was a reflection of how to please God and doing those things Christ would have him do. He was active in his church, his business, and many Christian charities. He wasn’t just a bystander, he was involved. He wanted to have impact, but more importantly he wanted to simply do his part. When you were around him he made you feel welcomed and happy you had spent time with him. He often shared about the causes he was a part of, but never bragged or boasted about what his involvement was. He just wanted you to know that God was good and that needs were being met.
If you knew Marv, you would say he was a distance runner and that he had finished the race well. I would agree that Marv ran the race well, but he wasn’t a distance runner at all (although he put in many miles). You see, distance runners are individuals who run from the start to finish by themselves. To me Marv was a vital member of a relay team.
A relay team has members who run to the best of their ability, but what is most important is that they know when it is time to hand off what they hold in their hand to the next participant. This allows them to run and b e involved in the race too.
Scripture talks about running in such a race like this. In the book of Hebrews, chapters eleven and twelve, we find many great examples. People like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Rahab, David etc. who ran before us and who have passed the baton to those generations that followed so that they would be able to run. These individuals are noted, not because they were perfect, but because they had faith, lived a life in obedience and shared God with those around them.
The bad news is that these people are no longer physically here with us, the good news is they have allowed us to carry on what they have begun. However, there is even greater news, they are now gathering together to cheer us along, and future generations, as we run the race God has set before us. They are still interested and involved in what we are doing.
I am sure if Hebrews chapter eleven were written today Marv’s name would be listed too. You see Marv knew he wouldn't live forever and spoke often of what he wanted to leave to his sphere of influence (family, friends, church and charities) so they could carry on the work that they mutually loved. He made sure of this by having a Last Will and Testament which included bequests so the baton would be handed off smoothly and not dropped.
My question for you today is, have you taken the time to make sure what God has entrusted to you will be put to effective use when you join that great cloud of witnesses? What do you have in your hand? What is it that you can pass along to your sphere of influence that will not only impact the next generation but those that will follow should Jesus tarry?
If you would like to know how to create a Transformational Planned Gift, or how to coach your champions to do this, contact your local Mission Increase Foundation Giving and Training Officer for the Transformational Planned Giving workshop lab assignment.
