I like track and field. I have watched quite a bit since American and Jamaican track stars have bought notoriety to the sport in recent years. I have grown to appreciate the preparation it takes to run a race, especially one run in less than 12 seconds. I assimilate race running with preparation for achieving your purpose, These are the steps in running a successful race;
Getting on your mark. This is how you position yourself to run your race. You understand your lane assignment.
Getting set. This means you are ready to begin your race and are mentally focused.
Stand up. This means you took too long to start your race and you must get repositioned.
False start. This means you were premature in the beginning of your race.
Disqualification. This means you false started too many times and are moved from your race.
Go. This officially begins your race with a push off the starting blocks. The firing of a pistol launches you.
Lane violation. This means you crossed someone's lane during your race and did not remain in your own lane.
Legs. These are the stages of your race, each requiring a specific focus, attention, and training.
Stretch. This is the final push toward the finish line in your race.
Running your race begins with your earliest exposure to your purpose. In my freshman year of high school, my college prep counselor gave her students the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory to help us determine our life and career path. My scores were completely accurate and I learned to follow them, even with some missteps. However, this tool helped me know my course at a young age, knowledge that kept me from wasting time, energy, and resources. As an older and mature man, I know how to run, stay in my lane, and stretch when I am finishing anything. I also know that finishing is not about how fast you run, but how steady you remain on your course.
Wouldn't it be great if we all knew our path at the beginning of our lives? Where would we be now? How much time would we have saved? What would each leg look like? Would we be in the home stretch or missed finishing due to a disqualification? One thing is clear. Each of us has a unique race to run, one that cannot be compared to anyone else. Regardless of how young or old, we have a course, and a path that we must finish. Our assignment is to know our path in life, position ourselves for greatness, run our race by staying focused on the finish line, not looking at who runs beside us, or who we may leave behind.
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