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 its
“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 with every respiration great effort. But these
are they 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 "Unconventional Devotions" Copyright 2005
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