Wednesday, February 29, 2012

HEADED HOME


I'm a hairstylist and I'm often on my feet for a very long time. And at the end of my day, I can't wait to get home. I'll visualize my bed as I drive home and refuse stop anywhere pushing past all obstacles. My focus is HOME.  I love what I do, though. It's fun, challenging and rewarding, but naturally I get tired at the end of the day, as anybody would. Sometimes, my days even feel like little races, where I start out strong and then slowly lose energy as I near the finish line.  

I remember being on my High School track team and running the 100 meter hurdles. My classmates might remember how ridiculous I was.  Track was not my sport at all, but being 5'2" and running the 100 meter hurdles was just plain silly. I knew I would never place, but I still wanted to challenge myself to something bigger than my preconceived limits. So after school, I would often set up 20 hurdles every 10 meters, totaling 200 meters instead of the traditional 10. Why? Because I thought if I conditioned myself for 20, then 10 might seem easier.  I was so worn out by the 20th hurdle, but determination was my ruler.  Although, this trick never made me faster, nor did it win me any races, I always crossed the finish line. I wasn't running to win, but to finish.

We're all in a race together; the race we call life. We run each and every day with our finish line marked somewhere ahead in an unknown distance. It could be a short dash for some and a marathon for others. We simply don't know how long the race will be for each of us. We just run the best we can. I suppose it's safe to say that we all get tired from time to time, especially when obstacles are put in our lane. We often view them as road blocks. It could be tempting to quit. But again, we must remember that these obstacles are merely part of the race. They are not meant to stop us, they are set in place for us to get past, leap over and poise ourselves confidently for the next one until the finish line is crossed. It is then, that we find rest. 

Was I still tired after 10 hurdles? YEP!  We all get tired, no matter how hard we try to outsmart ourselves. Fatigue is the outcome of doing something hard; it isn't a bad thing. It is merely a symptom that reveals to us that we need to find rest. And whether it's work or play, weariness happens...to all of us. Thankfully, 'rest' is always waiting... mile after mile, hurdle after hurdle, there's a finish line at the end of each day and a God who is always there to give us rest and lift us up.

Regardless of who we are, where we live or what we do, we're all headed towards a final resting place. Where are you headed?  Rest can be found in many places, but none greater than from the one who gives rest to the weary. Home may be our focus, but our final finish line is at the end of our life when home is no longer a house, but an eternity. And whether or not we find rest for our soul, is determined by the race in which we run, our focus, and whether or not we cross the finish line. 

*Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.
*11 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight and finished the race. I have kept the faith".
*Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint."