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The race is not given to the swift or the strong but to those that endure to the end.
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Perhaps you have heard this quote before. I confess to spending a significant amount of time trying to locate the source of this saying. In fact, I would have confidently proclaimed its biblical origin before my research today. This quote is, in fact, the combination of two different scriptures from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 9:11 and Matthew 10:22). Though not biblical in the way that I thought, this statement still contains truth and I have often used its message to guide my choices and behavior in life.
I began running track in junior high school. As you likely know, young track teams are often marked by herds of students with marginal interest in running and track coaches with marginal abilities to train runners. My early experience was no exception to this generalization. One day I entered a race to run 880 yards, the equivalent of a half mile. I completed the first lap well enough, but the second lap proved a bit more challenging. In fact, I walked off the track with less than 80 yards to go. In that moment, I was convinced that I could not finish the race. I felt pretty bad until my coach made me feel as if I were the worse human being on the planet. Her criticism of my finish (or lack thereof) was embarrassing and made me feel worse. I thought long and hard about all that went wrong, learned all that I could, and vowed that would never happen again. Over time, I became an accomplished middle-distance runner. Endurance became my strength.
The emphasis of the 2019 Leadership Summit of the River Conference was multiplication. Rev. Dr. Larry Walkemeyer spoke eloquently of the biblical mandate to become disciples that make other disciples who become disciple makers. His messages were inspiring, convicting, and challenging. Hopefully, each of us have considered what we can do to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches in our communities. Hopefully, each of us realizes that the goals we have set cannot be accomplished in a week, a month, or even several months. The Maxwell leadership plans outlines four characteristics of leaders who complete goals that are set before them. They are:
1. A compelling purpose: They make a great commitment to a great cause.
2. A clear perspective: They don’t let fear cloud their view of the future.
3. A continual prayer: They pray about everything and gain God’s favor.
4. A courageous persistence: They move ahead despite the odds.
I pray that each of you will earnestly seek the Lord for purpose, perspective, and persistence. Saturate your lives with prayer. Learn from your mistakes. Overcome embarrassment, shame and fear. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). The Lord is with you and the finish line is not as far away as you think.
Blessings to you all