Author Joni Eareckson Tada, in her book, "Overcoming Adversity," wrote about a volunteer at her ministry, Joni and Friends, a high school students named Clay. Clay cheerfully packed boxes and stuffed envelopes and just generally offered himself and his time wherever it was needed.
However, Joni noted, Clay's passion is running. During cross-country season Clay didn't volunteer many hours of service. Every hour he wasn't in school, he was out running. The folks at Joni's ministry would report seeing Clay out running in the wee hours of the morning, piling up the miles.
When she had the chance, Joni asked Clay a question that had been on her mind for a long time: what is the most difficult part of a long-distance run? She thought it would be either the first mile or so as the runner is getting mentally prepared to run a great distance or at the end, when you're body is exhausted and you feel like you can't run another step.
Clay's answer surprised Joni. He told her it was the middle portion of the run, "when you're out of range of those cheering voices at the start and finish lines. It's that long, grey middle distance that saps your strength and your will.
Life has been likened to a long-distance race. And there are times in our lives, especially when we seem to be in that middle distance, where the race is much more difficult than we could have imagined. A health problem, financial struggles or self-esteem issues can all seem like reasons for giving up.
If you are in need of refreshment for the race called "life," be sure to read Psalm 42 sometime this week. Hope in the Lord leads to praise. Love from the Lord leads to prayer. Verses 5 and 11 seem like a refrain worth singing: Put your hope in the Lord, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
