When a friend of mine turned 60, I went to her birthday party. She was twenty years older than me and I wondered, “Will I look as good as she does when I reach the age of 60?” 

When we had a moment alone, I asked her, “What do you do to stay so healthy?” 

“The best advice I can give you,” she said, “is to stay active.” 

Taking her words to heart, I considered what I might do to increase my causal and somewhat irregular physical activity and become more committed and disciplined.

Triathlon

Not long after that party I noticed a bright pink flier on a bulletin board at the grocery store. It was an advertisement for an all women’s sprint triathlon taking place at the end of the summer.  

Already somewhat a swimmer, an avid runner, and a mediocre bike rider; the three events in a triathlon, I thought that committing myself to enter the competition would give me a good reason to train, work harder, and be more disciplined. I made my decision to enter and when I got home, mailed my registration and entry fee. 

Competing in this triathlon meant I needed to learn how to swim freestyle. If I relied on the breaststroke for the ⅓ mile open water swim during the competition, I’d be left too far behind the rest of the pack. Consequently, I took swimming lessons and learned how to swim freestyle.

Increasing the distance I normally rode on my bike to the 12 miles required for the triathlon, I took longer rides and not necessarily for the pleasure of riding. Peddling against the wind, in the rain, and pushing aside my thoughts of quitting, built my physical stamina as well as mental endurance. 

Already an avid runner, running faster for three miles was the simplest part of my training. 

The day of competition arrived and my commitment to train, work harder and be more disciplined, paid off. Not only did I participate in the triathlon, but I completed the race and crossed the finish line. 

Running the Race of Faith

Remembering how I made the commitment to train for my first triathlon reminds me of what the apostle Paul wrote to a group of believers living in the city of Corinth way back around 53 A.D.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” 

From these words I glean that if I call myself a believer, which I do, and if I am committed to my relationship with God, which I am, then like an athlete, I am on a course that has a finish line. But, unlike athletes, Christians are not in competition against anyone for winning a first place wreath that withers with time. Instead, winning means the eternal reward of heaven.  

Why bother making a commitment? Making a commitment to run in the race of faith requires focused endurance with eyes set on the finish line. That finish line for a believer includes no more crying, no more death, no more anguish, sorrow, mourning, grief or pain. That is definitely a finish line I want to cross.