“My only goal today is simple: I just don't want to be the last one!” Those were my words yesterday morning around 6:00am as Gary and I were getting ready for our first 5K race. I still question the sanity of our participation in such a grueling course, especially since we love Couch far more than 5K! To say we are paying for it today would be a gross understatement.
The adrenaline in the air was addictive. I can definitely see how people can get hooked on this. The music. The camaraderie, the excitement was intense. We were completely amused at the different runners. We saw everyone from the super fanatic to.....well, Gary and myself.... who are lucky to keep our shoes tied.
Gary decided that it would be fun if we ran together. Now, honestly he trains and works out a lot compared to me. If he is anything when it comes to me, it is protective. He knows that I am not supposed to “ push it too hard.” Those little metal clips in my head prevent me from over-exerting myself. Avoiding an all out explosion in my head was his goal.
And we were off. The start was exhilarating. All those yellow shirts running down the road. It was truly a sight. Like I said at the beginning, this was a grueling course. It started on a slope and went uphill almost all the way to the halfway point. One of our psycho- runner types who does all this running for fun said it was one of the hardest courses he had run. Sounds pretty typical for Gary and myself, “ No halfway!” At least, we would die raising money for missions.
We ran one mile, two miles and we were doing well. I kept telling him to go on without me, I was fine. He finally conceded and left my side. I was working on a pretty good pace, and I had finished the hardest part when I saw her.
She was over 70, out of breath, and walking up the hill with a huge walking stick. Watching her, I wondered if she would actually make it to the top. My eyes had nowhere to go. I kept running. Struggle was not a good enough word to convey the difficulty she was having. I was coming down the course and she was going up, set totally in my vision with no reprieve in sight.
Through my music blaring in my ears, I heard it. It was simple and so very clear. God told me to go back up the hill with her.
But.....
I was doing well, and those hills were by far the worst part. I passed her, smiled, and asked if she was “Ok?” She said, “Yes, I am fine! Going up the hill, or die trying.”
Proud of my version of reaching out, I kept running. I patted myself on the back for checking on her and then I heard that little voice.
“ Niki, That was cute! Now, go back and do what I told you to do to start with. How can you say you are out here running for missions, being the hands and feet of Jesus, and go right past her? "
Please don't think I am condemning anyone who passed her before me, I don't know what they were told. I just know what I was told to do. I swallowed hard and said to the runner beside me, “ If she can do it once, I can do it twice.”
I caught back up with her, and we somehow got to the top of the hill. She had completed her race. Her goal from the start was to just get to the top. I hugged her, and told her she was my hero.
Then, I started down the hill again.
I had figured out quickly that I HAD to be the last one. Everyone else had long since finished and probably gone home. I resolved that last was just going to have to be OK.
I began to replay the scene of that day and God reminded me of a few things:
First,
In this life it is much easier to “check on” people than to “go up the hill” with them. Checking on people makes us feel better, but sacrificing our desires for someone else' s benefit is what makes the situation better. I have been guilty far too many times of giving lip service instead of actually getting involved.
Second, Your plans and God's plans don't always match. But His is always better. What an incredible blessing I would have missed if I had not stopped. To hear her determination and shear will over a promise made to God was inspiring. To see God honor her heart and allow her to finish. healthy and whole, was amazing.
Lastly, You are not alone. Someone knows where you are, and that you have not finished your race yet.
At the last check point there was Melanie. She is a runner, and she was waiting for me. The race officials knew I had not crossed the finish line, and she was going to make sure I didn't run the last part, when I was tired, all alone.
We took off, and I was completely exhausted. It was quite a scene. There we were, running by Lakewood Baptist with traffic stopped. Three police cars, lights on, following us...... surrounded by motorcycle police.
Then I saw him, My prince, Gary was running back up the hill looking for me. He knew I was still out there, and he was going to make sure I got to the finish line, even if he had to come back and run the race again with me.
So there we were, lights, police and all, running the last part. It was quite a “ Forrest Gump moment.” No one knowing why we were so late, and it never even mattered. I knew, and that was enough.
I thought about my request that morning, that I just didn't want to be last.......
Fifty eight minutes and eight seconds later I was completely sure that last place was exactly where I was supposed to finish.
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