THE RUNNER'S DISCIPLINE

We often wonder why thousand of marathoners seem to enjoy themselves in grueling races. Certainly, for most, it’s not the hope of winning. What is it then? Explaining it to his readers, writer Art Carey said,” The real joy of the Boston Marathon is just finishing, just winning the contest with yourself – doing what you have set out to do.” That’s the attitude the Hebrews were supposed to have. Stay in the faith-race to the end.

THE NIV QUIET TIME BIBLE (Hebrews 12: Page 1518)

Something2Share:

I believe we can learn something out of the discipline of the marathon runners. It was rightly said that the marathon runners who had trained hard for the race, went all out to finish the race with endurance and perseverance, even if not in a position to win the race.

We have heard of John Steven Akhwari, the marathon runner from Tanzania, in 1968 Mexico City Olympics. We read about him, being a disciplined athlete, hobbled in pain to reach the finish line with a bandaged leg. Although he finished in the last place but he had accomplished the mission that he was supposed to do. He was well aware that his country sent him there to finish the race.

Just as written in Hebrews 12:1, ”Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” and in Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Likewise, we have to discipline ourselves in our workplace, to do “what we have set out to do.” Each time we finish our task, no matter how tough it is, we know that we can do it with discipline, dedication and determination, and then full of diligence, persistence and perseverance. That’s what we call job satisfaction ("real joy") and we all feel proud of it!