Commitment and Reward - Lincoln Marathon and Commitment Sunday

About four years ago I was standing on Main Street in Hopkinton, Massachusetts at ten o’clock in the morning with about 25,000 other people from all fifty states and over one hundred countries. We were waiting for the gun to go off to start the 112th Boston Marathon. A nor’easter was bearing down on New England. It was cold and a forty-mile-per-hour wind would be blowing in my face for the next three hours as I ran the 26.2 miles into Boston. The rain was relentless. 

Just like most other marathons I have run, I finished in about three hours. It wasn’t easy. I actually ended up in the hospital with hypothermia, but the toughest part about the marathon isn’t making it to the finish line, the toughest part is making it to the starting line.

Some of the weRun group from the 2011 Lincoln Marathon

You’ll notice a lot less people in worship today. Over 70 runners from The Water’s Edge are running the Lincoln Marathon or Half-Marathon. Many family and friends will be cheering them on. I’ll be doing the half marathon in Lincoln with Amber. We did her first 5K last fall. This race is ten miles farther than she has ever gone before. 

Each runner has had their own unique journey to get to the starting line. One morning or one evening, each of them had to take a scary first step. Many times each runner had to make the choice between quitting and continuing. They chose to continue. They have run through aches and pain, doubts and fears, heat and cold. The easy part is driving to Lincoln. The hard part was the regular training. 

The marathon at its best is a metaphor for life. The desire to win means nothing without the will to prepare to win. The desire to finish strong means nothing without the will to prepare to finish strong. Talent is not enough. Commitment produces results in all areas of life: running, relationships, and discipleship are no exceptions to this rule. 

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. -1 Corinthians 9:24-25

By next Sunday our finisher’s medals will be hanging on a mirror or tucked away in a drawer. At best it will be an occasional reminder of commitment producing results. 

Next Sunday is Commitment Sunday at The Water’s Edge. We will be asked to commit to pray, to be present, to give, to serve, and to witness. Committing in these areas of life allows us to connect to each other and to God. The result of our Christian commitment is the eternal gold that never tarnishes. 

I look forward to committing with you. 

The best is yet to come… 

Craig