Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Finish Line

Some of you might not be into running, or your idea of running is "Honey, I'm running to the store." But, for those of us that may have a bit more "experience," and to play on the words of a semi-famous movie.... A Funny Thing Happened To me on The Way To The Finish Line...:

"Last Saturday morning, making the turn into the final stretch of the Germantown 5 miler I noticed this boy, probably 9 or 10, having a really hard time just keeping his pace up, and in fact he started walking. I remember it clearly, like it had just happened. I came up by him and just yelled out, "C'mon, you can do it! Clapping my hands a few times, and when I saw him slowing up, occasionally I just yelled out, "1714 (his race #) you can do it! ".... Well sure enough, he did pick up his pace, and in fact moved on to finish the 5 K run in full stride!

Then, it hit me, that OUR GOD is kinda like the way I was with this boy. He comes along side us, when we really don't think we have it in us to do more, or to finish well, and just encourages us and sticks by us until we can come in under our own power.

I don't know this kid's name, I may never run into him again, but I do know that what happened around 9 AM, Saturday, May 16, 2009 gave me an insight into the mind of God that I won't soon forget.