Getting On Track…

He had a good hunch that since my daughter is on the track team and my son is one of the coaches, I would be there. So, last Friday, Jim Jackson held out his camera to me and asked me to take photos of the Divisional Track Meet in Whitefish for the Lakeshore Country Journal. Normally, I am skillful at declining any opportunity to take on a new responsibility, but before I could make up some lame excuse, Jim put the camera in my hand and began showing me how to operate it. I had no choice.

I never had to be so observant at a track meet before I was given this photo assignment. When I walked into the infield of the track, it dawned on me that I would have to be in a continual search for Bigfork's distinctive red, white and blue uniform in each event. Back and forth I went from one end of the field to the other; discus…pole vault…long jump…constantly watching the track to see if we had any runners in the next race.

As the afternoon progressed, I probably began to over-rate the significance of my mission, but it didn't matter…I was getting in to this. Our kids have worked hard all year and this would be the last meet of the season for some; others may do well enough to earn the right to "go to State" in Butte the following Saturday. My job was to capture it on film and I was the right man for the job!

On the way home, I was in quite a good mood-unusual considering I had spent yet another Saturday at a track meet while disappointed fish waited on me in vain. As I thought about what a good afternoon it had been, the 'bad mood guy in me' said, "Wait a minute! You just missed another Saturday…what makes you think it was such a good afternoon?" I decided not to let him take me there; I over-ruled him and kept thinking.

Why had I enjoyed the day? Number one, I realized that since there are no referees or umpires at a track meet, I had not made an idiot of myself. And…most of the athletes have a great attitude-voluntarily. For some unknown (great) reason, it's O.K. to be a good sport in track. At the end of the race, many of the runners will go immediately to the winner of the race, put his/her arm around their shoulder and give them a heart-felt congratulations-even though he/she just beat them.

Then, there's the focus each individual athlete is drilled to maintain. It may or may not be this way for all track programs, but in this one the individuals are encouraged to continually improve their individual performance in each of their events. Athletes and coaches are very excited and complimentary when someone bests his/her own distance, time or height in an event. The occasion even has a term; PB…Personal Best.

Finally, there are the fans. They obviously yell and cheer for their favorite athlete, but invariably, someone finishes last...sometimes 'way last'. Typically, the fans clap heartily for the straggler at the end, almost as if to say, "We're proud of you for finishing!"

I was almost home as I concluded these are all great aspects of a sport, but they also parallel many of the issues in life. Suddenly, I remembered what should have been obvious to me; the Bible contains numerous references to the parallels between running a race and living the life of faith in God. Since the Olympic Games date back to 776 BC, many of the writers of Scripture had first-hand knowledge of the same events in track and field that we have today. Perhaps the apostle Paul received his inspiration at one of the Greek games to write:

Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT)

Paul knew we need to be as disciplined in our spiritual life as an athlete is in maintaining his/her focus and physical condition. As in a race where other athletes may be faster or stronger, there will also be others who can outrun us spiritually. But-that doesn't matter. Our job is to always work to keep improving our PB; winning will take care of itself in due time.

Runners in a race need to make sure that the other runners don't force them to alter their plan for running their race. Paul used the analogy of a runner cutting in on another, changing his/her strategy for the race to illustrate to the people in Galatia how they were getting off track in their spiritual lives, abandoning a life of faith in God in exchange for a 'do-gooder' religion.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? (Galatians 5:7 NIV)

The writer of Hebrews must have been inspired by the thunderous roar of the crowd at the Ancient Games to illustrate how so many other people of faith are cheering us on to do our best as we run this race…this life of faith in God:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

(Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

I wasn't on the track team in High School. All I had to do was sign up and try my best, but I didn't. Now, all I can do is wonder what might have been as I stand on the sidelines and watch. But, the good news is that I have signed up for the most important race of life…the life of faith in God. I may not break any records, but I plan to finish. I want to be able to quote St.Paul:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV)

What about you? Are you in the race, or watching others from the sideline?

Go Vikes and Vals! Kick State at Butte!