With each marathon, it is the prospect of crossing the finish line that propels you forward despite the suffering you are going through. The closer you get to the finish line, the more you have to stay present and focus on running the mile you're in.
Life is like that. I am currently finishing a book on textual criticism that will bring my career full circle. (My very first publication was a study of textual criticism back in 1982.) And how brief that career seems to me today.
I snapped this pic last night.
The scene is the bridge in Clarksville, 10 miles from my home. Sunsets are special because they last for but a moment. Each day is precious because it must end. This truth allows me to appreciate my 46-year career for what it was -- a beautiful season that shaped me for the rest of my life. Crossing the finish line yesterday at the Richmond Marathon was yet another reminder that the move from the race to the post-race reality is a perfectly normal transition.
Nothing is meant to last forever except for our relationship with God.
What I've learned through my races is that there is a season for everything. This truth allows you to move on to the next season of life without trying to live in the past. Thank you, Lord, for making this possible. I'll be forever grateful.