Scripture
The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.
~Ecclesiastes 9:11, NLT
Quote
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
~ Winston Churchill
There is a difference between being competitive and being a competitor. I am very competitive but there is very few things in which I can compete; right now, I can’t think of any. The world crowns success. Great athletes are highly acclaimed. Those who are outstanding in their field are recognized and awarded. Great actors, entertainers, leaders, and athletes hear thundering applause of admiration and approval. These are things that most of us never experience. At one time, I loved to run but I don’t remember ever winning a race. There was always someone faster. I did finish second in a speakers contest back in 1968 but, there were only two speakers. You do the math. I ran track and cross country at UCLA in 68-69 {University of Calhoun Located by the Airstrip} but I never won a race, never really came close. June and I got married in August of 1971 and then I got fat and stopped running for years. I didn’t run again until I was 28. I ran in the TIMES-DAILY {Florence Newspaper} 10-K. I was overweight {215} and did good just to finish. Some years later I met my old high school class mate Morris Hill and found out that he ran 10-K’s almost every weekend. Like me, Morris was running so he could eat more. Morris knew me well; he knew my competitive nature and he would always tell me, “Jack, remember, we are not competing against anyone here today, our goal is to finish. The he would say, “TO FINISH IS TO WIN.”
We do live in a highly competitive society and there is enormous pressure put on young people {even children} to win or to succeed. I remember when they tried to make T-ball instructional and not competitive. There was no score keeping {officially} but parents didn’t like that and they kept score themselves. Let me ask you a question: is it possible for winners to be losers? I heard someone complain the other day about Pete Rose not being in the Hall of Fame and I spoke my peace. Pete Rose is a jerk. Interview the mother of his sons or the sons and ask them about Pete’s character. You may argue that character does not count and you would be in full agreement with Bill Clinton but I’m going to have to disagree–CHARACTER COUNTS. Athletic ability pales in comparison to character. The key to success is not to quit. It is to keep on keeping on. I keep the motto Morris taught me in my mind…To finish is to win. When we fall, we get up and get back on our feet. No time for a pity party; we can meditate on our mistakes as we run. We don’t quit and we don’t turn back; we look straight ahead with our eyes focused on the Captain of our faith. In Christ kingdom, the score is kept differently from the world: the last are first and the smallest are the greatest.
Extra
Day one of VBS went really good. I had only 6 girls on the van but that worked fine. They were quiet as a mouse going but a little rowdy coming home. We have VBS for the children in the morning and something for the youth at night. I’m glad Josh has got the energy to stay ahead of these young folks. I get tired just watching all the activity.
Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.