[04ctd]

The Hill
Mary Lee Moeny

'Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us...' Hebrews 12:1

In the early 1980s our daughter ran for a season with the Duke City Dashers, girls' and women's track team. Our daughter was young, maybe first or second grade. One of the races we attended was held in the foothills to the east of town.

We came out for the race on a sunny Saturday ÔÇô you could already tell that it was going to be a hot day. The coach gathered the girls; they lined up at the starting line; the gun was fired and they were off ÔÇô running through the arroyos of New MexicoÔÇÖs Sandia Mountain.

We parents wandered from the Starting Line over to the Finish Line to cheer the girls on. The Finish Line was tricky. As the girls rounded the bend of the arroyo (they would be running through sand), in front of them was a rise.

From the perspective of the girls, the rise seemed to go straight up, at least a mile or so. From the perspective of the parents on the top, the rise was neither that steep, nor that high. And, just as you topped the hill, there was the Finish Line! But, you couldnÔÇÖt see it until you topped the crest of the rise.

The girls came running ÔÇô this was a cross country race and the girls had run hard! One little girl, built more like a cocker-spaniel than a greyhound, ran by. Her face was flushed, hot and sweaty; her curly blonde hair was sticking to her face and her neck. You could tell she had hit the wall, that sheÔÇÖd run out everything she had! When she saw this ÔÇÿmile-high mountainÔÇÖ in front of her, she broke into gasping tears. Her coach, on the sidelines, encouraged her not to quit: ÔÇ£DonÔÇÖt step off the track, honey! You can do it!ÔÇØ He kept encouraging her, telling her she didnÔÇÖt have to run up the hill; she could just walk it. She was so close - she was almost to the Finish Line.

that was a profound lesson to me. When the course has been hard and IÔÇÖve given it all that I have to give; when thereÔÇÖs a pain in my gut and I feel like my legs are made of Jell-O, when I donÔÇÖt know where the Finish Line is, the Lord does know. From the perspective of the little girl, the Finish Line was an impossible goal. From the perspective of her coach, she was almost there.

It has been that way in so many hard, hard issues in my life ÔÇô when I thought I could go no further, my Coach, Jesus Christ always encourages me: ÔÇ£Take heart. Do not be afraid. You donÔÇÖt have to run; just stay on the track! Stay in the race ÔÇô you are almost there!ÔÇØ

He knows where the Finish Line is; He knows how close I am and He gives me strength to finish the course.

ÔÇ£I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.ÔÇØ John 16