Finisher

Today as I started my run of seven miles I wondered why in the world I signed up for this marathon.  What was I thinking???

It is cloudy and grey outside, the wind is blowing in such gusts that at times I was held and running in place and at other times, I was thrown from my path sideways.  The wind is so cold and chilling that my fingers are still numb trying to type.

I was so focused on trying to keep my eye on the rocky path I was running on which is full of pot holes that it took me awhile to realize that I was hearing the waves of our lake crashing against the rocks below me.  I would try to glance up to see the magnificence and beauty but would have to turn my eyes back to the path to keep from tripping.

As I finished my seven miles I smiled and knew why I'd signed up for the marathon and was once again glad that I had.  At the end of the race, I'll be given a ribbon with the words, "FINISHER" on it.  I'm not fast.  I won't get any medals of placement.  That doesn't matter to me.  What matters to me is that one word.  FINISHER.

While I was running today I thought about the race we are in called life.  While I run, I come in the path of strong winds that make me feel like I am not getting anywhere or thrown off of the path, I come across potholes, I trip and fall sometimes scraping my knees, I run out of breath, get stitches in my side, sore muscles, wonder if I can go on and why I'm even trying to run, and then I remember that at the end of this race, I'll have a ribbon put around my neck that says, "FINISHER" and I can't wait to cross that finish line to get that ribbon knowing I've trained hard, done my best, and run a good race.