Every Day Efforts, Long Term Gains

This isn’t an earth shattering insight, as no doubt countless wise religious others have said this many times and in many ways. But I’m sharing it anyways…

The spiritual life is like training for a Half Marathon.

I signed up for a Half Marathon in the Fall. And in order to run it successfully I need to put in daily efforts so that come race day I can achieve my goal of making it across the finish line.

I think there is risk in the spiritual life of aiming for Heaven, wanting Heaven, but then assuming we will be graced with Heaven out of God’s great love and mercy even if we don’t “put in all the work” and live each of our days as though we really, truly, deeply want to achieve Heaven.

We need to live each of our days (each of our moments!) as though they contribute to our ability to complete our ultimate goal of being with Jesus and God eternally. If we don’t focus on the “here and now” and live properly in this moment, then we won’t be properly prepared for the “there and then” of Judgment Day and Heaven.

You can’t show up on race day and expect to be able to run a Half Marathon if you don’t put in any work in advance. If you’re lucky maybe you could scrape yourself those 13.1 miles and get to the finish line. It would be ugly but you could do it. But do you want it to be ugly? No! You want to accomplish your goal and accomplish it well. Or at least you should!

I need to put in an effort today knowing that race day lies ahead of me. I need to train. I need to do the work I am called to do so that I can achieve the goal I want to achieve. It is hard at times. It takes time. It takes a focused effort. It takes energy. It takes sacrifice. It takes a lot of things. But in the end the reward is great. The reward is beautiful. The reward is definitely worth all of those efforts I put in day by day.

But physical goals and temporal goals are one thing. They can guide and point and show us “hey, do this with your spiritual life to!” insights. Spiritual goals and eternal goals are a much grander and much more significant thing.

I need to remember to nurture my spiritual life daily, to focus on what God wants of me with my time, talent, treasures, and to just praise and worship Him so fully. I need to turn my mind and heart to him daily (multiple times a day! constantly!) so that when my personal race is over and I can see him face to face I will be able to successfully cross that finish line.

Lord, may I always remember you daily and live my moments aimed at loving you as much as you call me to love you. In how I act, in how I serve others, and in how I follow your will – may I keep a steady focus on the eternal as I experience the temporal. Amen.