Running and Holding Back

Well, it's been almost 2 weeks since I've ran outside. Actually it's been 11 days. And it was 11 days ago I was able to run 7 miles. Then sickness set in, an ice storm hit, and my left hamstring began giving me a little twinge. Today the sun was out, it hit 40 degrees and my left back thigh didn't seem to be too bothered, so I took off outside and ran 4 miles. Right now it is after 10 pm and I really feel pretty good. My left leg gave me just a tad discomfort after running, but it wasn't too bad.

I took it pretty easy as I ran and didn't give in to any "sprint" urges at my finish. I always finish well and it's become quite a habit to pick it up at this one point of my course that nears the end. But to spare my left leg, I held back.

Holding back is something the marathon experts say is of great importance at the beginning of the 26.2 mile run. And it is hard because of all the adrenalin pumping through your body and all the electric excitement that's in the air at the event. Yet, holding back is not what I want to do at this point in my training. It is a dilemma, but I am trying to be patient and accepting of where I'm at.

Holding back is something Christians must do at times as well. We should hold back when we are mistreated, not returning evil for evil. We should hold back when we are angry, not letting our emotion lead us to sin. We should hold back when passions would cause us to step out of certain boundaries - and one does know where the lines are drawn. We should hold back our tongue when it would otherwise lash out, give an unkind word or unfair criticism. We should hold back and take the lesser seat, waiting for an invitation to be moved higher. We should hold back in demanding our right to be proven right. God knows. God sees. He will bring justice in His time.

When I look into the Word or even through history, I'm amazed at how many faithful saints were mistreated, rejected, persecuted, ridiculed, and maliciously slandered. Folks separated themselves from these faithful saints because they simply could not stand the light and the truth that was in them. John tells us that men do love the darkness and are bent towards it. Those that are repelled by the light have a spirit of jealousy and envy within them. Those of God's children - branded by Him, blessed by Him and used by Him will be targets to these kinds of people. It even says that of those who came against Christ Jesus. They had no reason to crucify Him. Their envy spurred them on and the book of James says that "where there is envy and selfish ambition demonic spirits abound." Where God's favor settles, demonic forces follow creating a mess of human relationships. Who will hold back? I believe that it will be the one who really loves Jesus and knows that he has a cross like his Master's to bear. And so, he will hold back from the desire to retaliate, and choose to pick up this cross, carry it, and daily ask for the strength to offer love in return for whatever unfair, underserved coldness comes his way.

Yes, holding back is something we can learn from Jesus and the faithful saints of old. Their ability to keep running the race of faith in Christ in spite of such circumstances of real people treating them with such malice reveals to me the need for Divine power to take the helm of my heart and fill it with a neverending outpouring of love, mercy, forgiveness and grace and then direct it towards those who would rather seek to bring hurt.

Holding back in marathon training is not my idea of proper preparation to achieve the goal of crossing the finish line. But holding back to ungodly actions and attitudes is definitely the right kind of preparation for crossing heaven's finish line and hearing Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."