When I was in the military, we had to take a physical fitness test each year that consisted of pushups, situps, and a two mile run. As my last few years were full time with the Guard, the age range of people varied from early twenties to fifties. It always amazed me how the older people did better than the younger people. A twenty something guy would give up on the last few pushups needed to pass and a fifty something guy would huff and puff, grit his teeth, grunt, and do all that were required. I finally figured that the difference was not the physical condition of the folks, but the determination to stay the course.
When Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc from the Gulf Coast to Clarke County, again the older folks made do with what they had. Younger folks had to go get generators, bottled water, etc. and often complained – much like the difference between the residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast exercising self sufficiency and the wimpy wails of the ninth ward of New Orleans.
Life is not a sprint, but is a marathon. Runners will tell you there is a great difference with doing marathons well. There is preparation all the time and there is pacing during the event. So it is with life. Life preparation includes thinking ahead, planning, and taking care of all areas of our lives – all the time. When we don’t, that is when the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, we can’t get a cell phone signal, etc.
Life pacing is taking care of things regularly along the way. It is practicing good health habits to minimize injury or disease. It is setting aside money in savings. Finally, the most important life pacing is to follow the lyrics of the song “Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee” – Jesus can help us stay the course.
