Running and Boston Inspiration

Well, this morning I watched the 110th Boston Marathon as I sipped my coffee and recovered from a very busy holiday weekend! I was in awe as I watched these incredible runners do their thing. It is amazing what the human body can do with the right kind of training. Hats off to them and especially to the man and woman from Kenya who won this year's race! A new Boston record for the man and a new comer to the Boston race for the woman.

Of course after watching the marathon, I was more than ready to go run my meager little 4 miles. And off I went in perfect 50 something degree weather, much better than the hot stuff I ran in a couple days ago. I run so much better in cooler weather. My run felt really good. My pace was faster than usual. My left ankle felt better than the other day, but I decided to stick to the pavement. I tried to run in the grass a couple of times, but it didn't feel good to my ankle.

So the whole while I ran, I kept thinking about the marathoners I had just watched on the tv. It helped me to keep up a faster pace. It helped me to push myself up the hills. It helped me to focus on my stride, my breathing, my arm movements. I was into this run. It was a great workout for me. Thanks to those Boston marathoners - a great cloud of witnesses before me.

God has given me another cloud of witnesses to be inspired by in Hebrews 11. They are great men and women of faith, of whom it says the world is not worthy of. I want to run as they did. I want my faith in God to be as real as theirs was. So real that my God is so pleased and moved to accomplish His works in and through me.

The marathoners that ran in the Boston race this day ran for a perishable wreath. Not to diminish their glory or honor. It is just the way it is. The marathoners that are recorded in Hebrews 11, ran for an imperishable wreath. It remains for eternity. I want to be able to taste both, in my own little way and always keep a proper perspective before me.