Someone once asked Joe Di Maggio, the 20th
century baseball legend, “Joe, why do you always give it your all. Why do you
literally exhaust yourself every time you go out on the field?”
Well, Joe thought a moment, and provided
the listener a wonderful reply. “Because there may be someone in the crowd who
has never seen me play.”
I served in The United States Air Force,
The Air National Guard and The Army National Guard for over twenty years. The
later service, and it’s parent service, The United States Army, have as their
motto – “Be all that you can be.” That’s what old Joe was talking about.
Hebrews 12
urges us… “Seeing how we are compassed by such a great cloud of witnesses, let
us strip off everything that hinders us, and the sin that so easily besets us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1-2,
KJV)
Track and Field was a “biggie” in Grecian
times. We see several runners strung out across the lanes of the dusty track.
We notice their breathlessness, as they are so intensely focused on the task at
hand. But then we notice something a bit more obvious, a bit more startling.
For before us they strut and fret and begin to run quickly forward, without a stitch of clothing on their lean,
but muscular frames. But before you blanch with embarrassment, the entire
audience are men.
The writer of Hebrews had this example in
mind when he wrote his 12th chapter. “Let us strip off everything that hinders us,… and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us.”
I see the fulfillment (and the lack
thereof) of this scripture day in and day out. For I am administrator of a
local addictions group. So many start out well, and seem to “play well,” but
their strength soon wanes, and their determination fades quickly. Others
however, run the race, not with ease, but with extraordinary effort and commitment
to a cause. Their unblinking eyes never lose sight of the track ahead. They run
the race well. They not only stay clean, but they get free.
They have stripped off everything that had
previously bound them to the past, and all it’s “dysfunction” and negative
behaviors. They “draft” off those who run ahead of them.
They have learned the “tricks of the
trade.” They hear the cheers of the crowd, and are encouraged by these
disembodied voices. They focus on the finish line, straining every sinew and
every ligament to gain the prize.
Their lungs gasp for precious oxygen, and every
respiration comes with great effort. But these are those who wear the crown.
I ran such a race numerous times, as I
fulfilled the requirements of my part-time reserve career. I remember one
particular fellow who literally slowed down to run with me. He was so much
faster than I, but he sacrificed a better time to help me run my race. You can
imagine my encouragement. He saw me through to the end. He gave me strength to
believe I could finish that run. I can envision the Son of God running this
race of life with me. For He has assumed a role so much like that man in my
story.
I remember the distant whistles and yells
of the crowd who had already finished the race. I can still see them standing
at the finish line. The last few hundred yards were by far the most
challenging. But those voices never ceased, and as the volume grew louder, the
closer I got to the finish line. I think it must be that way with this run we
run. The longer we run and the closer we come to “the tape,” the better we hear
those who have gone before, and who proclaim our victory from the stands.
Joe Di Maggio had it about right. “Because
there may be someone in the crowd who has never seen me play.” They can see us
from the portals of heaven, and their voices grow louder as we round the last
curve into home.
By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Musings." Copyright 2010.
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