I am not sure why we often hear the same message several times without it having any significant personal meaning and then all of a sudden, a light bulb moment comes over us.  My recent light bulb moment came while I was running up a hill in my most recent attempt to reestablish my cardio-fitness regime.  The success of that goal aside, I must count the effort a success simply because of the light bulb moment.

While chugging up the hill I was reminded of Biblical instructions to “run the race” in life and “finish strong.”  Having run a few marathons in the (distant) past, I always thought, “well right, that makes sense” but I never felt any personal application other than in the context of running.  But those phrases, combined with the message at church about taking a breath, saying a prayer, and plunging forward in sharing the Gospel resulted in somewhat of an epiphany for me.

I confess I became born again at 45, far enough along that I thought about all of the wasted opportunities with which I had been presented in my life. My son Rhys, on the other had became a Christian shortly after we enrolled him at Woodcrest Christian School. By the time of his senior retreat before graduation, he was deeply and forever rooted in his faith. That he was called home to Heaven by age 20 seemed almost like waste; most certainly a tragedy.

But I thought about the “race” and “finishing strong.”  Rhys was responsible for bringing his dad and me to faith.  He was responsible for bringing many others in the military to faith. He lived his faith every day.  On the day he was killed in Iraq, he and his battle buddy switched seats in the truck.  His battle buddy was thrown clear of the truck when the IED hit. As it turns out, I believe that was God’s hand, knowing that Rhys’ buddy was not a true believer and still needed time on this earth to sort that all out.

Rhys ran his race and he absolutely finished strong.  I am sure he heard the words, “well done, good and faithful servant.”  Rhys ran his race in 20 years.  I am still running mine and I confess, I’ve been jogging, not running.  Then it occurred to me that God’s timing is always perfect and His grace is boundless.  It does not matter if you started the race late, as I did.  It does not even matter if you take a few side detours off course on the way.  The part that really matters is finishing strong.  So as I ran up that hill, I realized that is my target; share my faith, step out on a limb, don’t be afraid of failure or ridicule.  The goal is to finish and it is God who sets the time we finish, whether it is 20 years or 60 years or even 100 years.  You are never first or last in God’s race.

It is never too late to start.  Just focus on finishing strong.

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Lynn

Account Executive at Sika Sarnafil

Lynn is an accomplished writer and business professional with a BA in English, an MBA, and JD degrees from prestigious Universities. Lynn has worked in the construction industry for 35 years.

She is also the mother of an American Hero. Her only child, Sgt. Rhys W. Klasno was killed in action on "Mother's Day," 13 May 2007 in Haditha, Iraq. Read her American Hero Tribute Blog and check out her Roofing Solutions Wonderkid Blog

Latest posts by Lynn (see all)

• HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY RHYS - July 16, 2016
• Running the Race - August 4, 2014
• Testing the limits of my endurance - July 4, 2014