Hurdles and Shoelaces

by Darla Noble

Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

1 Corinthians 9:24

It seems like only yesterday that our family was cheering my son on during his cross-country and track meets. He was good; breaking school records and finishing in the top three in all but two races of his six-year junior high and high school ‘career.’ Zach’s success garnered him a lot of attention and, since distance running is not really much of a team sport, it would have been easy for him to see himself as a one-man team. But that’s not who Zach is.

I’ll never forget one particular meet when a girl he’d known since first or second grade, took a misstep over one of the hurdles she was jumping, causing one of her shoes to come untied. When she landed, she tripped over the shoelace and fell face forward onto the track. Zach and another girl from the team were the first ones to come to her aid and to assure her it was nothing to worry about—that there would be other races. And before Katy ran in the next track meet, Zach took the time to make sure her shoelaces were securely tied.

We all need someone like Zach in our life—especially our spiritual life. We need someone who, when we ‘trip over our shoelaces’ will encourage us, empathize with us, hold us accountable, and mentor us toward a deeper and more personal relationship with the LORD.

Pray: God, I ask that You give me the strength and courage to run my life’s race toward You and the glory of heaven. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.