The word of the day, on this 20th anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks, is relish. Relish each day the Lord gives you on this earth. Relish the health you enjoy. Relish every relationship you have. Relish the ability to start a race.
And continue it.
And finish it.
The last step of a race is the first step of the rest of your life.
Today I ran in Becky's memory. I also ran in memory of those who died on 9/11. It's terrible that these bad things happened. But we can all learn a lesson from loss and tragedy. And that lesson is to not take anything or anyone for granted. You never know what tomorrow will bring. So be thankful for your life. Be thankful for all of it, the good as well as the bad that forces you to depend more on God. When the pain comes, and it will, don't let it break you. Suffering is temporary.
All of this to say: today's race reminded me once again of how running (or any challenge in life for that matter) can make us stronger and better. You pull through even when you don't think you can. Over time we tend to take life for granted. We forget to RELISH the fact that we get to do this. A race like today's reminds you to give thanks. It's a reminder of something I should do every day. I'm still here and I'm still healthy and I don't take that for granted. I have never before in my life had so much to cherish, especially Jesus. He is my rock and the love of my life. He is always there. He will always be there.
For today, for this moment in time, don't be afraid to live bravely, boldly, and daringly. Take chances. Go for broke. Don't be afraid to suffer or to love. And relish, oh be sure to relish, life. It is a pure gift from God. Let him infuse it with meaning and purpose.
P.S. In case you're interested in such things, here are the stats from today's annual North Hills 5K in Raleigh:
I came in 107th out of 239 runners on a truly unforgettable day.