Day 20 - Run to Win!

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one." 

(1 Corinthians 9:24-25) 

The twentieth day marks the halfway point of this forty day beauty transformation. We have looked at beauty misconceptions and some fundamental truth regarding beauty. From this point on we will be focusing on virtue. I hope that we can commit today to making the remaining twenty days truly sanctifying. Let us think less about what we are giving up and more about what we are putting in. Let's make this a time of prayer and formation in the truth, so that we can live virtue and become truly beautiful. God has a great gift to give us at the end of these forty days, He wants to make us new creations, let's not miss out. 

St. Paul's analogy of running a race did not hit home for me until about four years ago. Growing up, I hated to run. So much so that I would fake illness on track and field day so as to not have to run the mile time test. The thought of the physical pain and emotional embarrassment of coming in last made my stomach turn with anxiety. Needless to say, I never participated in any competitive sport in my school years. It wasn't until my son was born that I began running. Though, you could hardly call it that at first. I would run 30 seconds, walk, run 30 seconds, walk, repeat. Sure I hated it, but for some reason I decided to challenge myself in a way that I never had before and to succeed. 

Sixteen months later, I ran my first 5k race. For me this was a great accomplishment! I never thought I would be ale to run for three miles straight. As I said, I had never done anything competitive in my life, and it showed. I set out in the race with absolutely no intention to win. Victory for me would be to finish and make my self-appointed goal time. I ran at a very comfortable pace, chatting and enjoying the run. I was happy with my time at the end... until I heard the first place winner's time announced for my age group. I was seconds short of winning. I realized something. If I had set out running to win, I could have! 

Our mindset is important, both in sports and the spiritual life. St. Paul relates the spiritual life to running a race. During these forty days we commit to training a little harder, running a little farther than we think we can. God is calling us to be victorious. It is not enough to simply run the race. We can win! Let's pick up the pace and put our whole hearts into it for the remaining forty days...and the rest of our lives. 

Taking second place in a physical race is a great accomplishment. What about the spiritual life? At the end of my life, I sure don't want to find out that if I had pushed myself a little harder I could have won. To run is not enough, we must train. St. Paul went on to say, "So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). To win we must run with intention, train in virtue,  and live an authentic Christian life. 

I have heard a description of heaven that gives me fervor in the journey. The idea was that getting to heaven would be like ending a long marathon, the finish line is inside a huge stadium and you get to take a victory lap there. When you approach the stadium, the tunnel entrance is lined with your patron saints, people you shared Christ with and helped them get to heaven, your closest relatives, etc. They greet you with cheering and high fives. The whole stadium is filled with voluminous cheering coming from the communion of saints who have been praying for you to finish well. You throw your hands in the air and make your victory lap, taking your place in the communion of saints and becoming part of the cheering squad for the next runner. You ran, you finished, you won the imperishable crown. 

I want that. I want to run to win. 

Today's Challenge: 

What have you given up for these forty days? What have you taken on? Consider what you can do to run a little harder. Ask the Lord to speak to you and convict your heart. 

Today's Prayer: 

Help me Lord to recommit today to making this journey with my heart. Water the soil of my soul so that your new life can grow. Teach me your ways and help me to desire your truth. May I fall more in love with you today. Do not allow me to go through these forty days unchanged. May I choose beauty, virtue, and run this race to win the imperishable crown awaiting me in heaven. Amen.