Keep running!

“Don’t you know that all the runners in the stadium run, but only one gets the prize? So run to win.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:24‬ ‭CEB‬‬

We are in the fall season; where leaves shrivel and wither, longer nights and short days; not forgetting the biting cold accompanying the rain making way for the winter season. In this part of the world, it is sometimes amusing when the gloominess of a weather can make us downcast at times. In November, many resign and conclude their year- whether it was a failure or success. You go to stores and you will see 2019 diaries and calendars on sale.

Well I couldn’t help seeing this scripture which served as a source of encouragement personally and thought I should share it with our community here. I came to tell you: KEEP RUNNING. Don’t know how your year has turned out to be but don’t throw in the towel yet. The next one and half months is an opportunity to end well on a victorious and good note

Let us focus our attention on the athlete (not just a runner, but the sportsman) who is running to win and see if we can glean some pointers in our race of 2018. Permit me to share a few:

Endurance– John Orozco, the US gymnast comes to mind when I think of this quality. He has faced a number of serious injuries but always came back stronger. He tore his Achilles in 2010 and 2012 which was career threatening but that didn’t stop him from rehabbing, training hard and coming back in time for the 2012 Olympics in London and won the gold. Where are you mentally and emotionally? Don’t check out! Recalibrate for the journey and keep on till it is over

Focus– I admire comeback stories. Tiger Woods in 2008 was on track to becoming the first billionaire athlete until everything around him came tumbling down in November of that year. His carefully packaged and marketable image was seen as a laughing stock. He was among the most decorated winners in his sport- golf. Lost endorsements, his marriage, and the trust of his fans who felt somewhat betrayed- just a few to mention. It has been a long road to redemption with bumps here and there. Well, in September 2018, he won the Tour Championship which has put him back in the books of the elite. The ten years of struggle had to do with his break in focus. Around this time, it is easy to break focus when you are not hitting your target. You have travelled too far to lose focus now. Keep focusing! You will win

Diet– This really counts! An athlete needs to be within a certain weight for optimal capacity. You are almost treated like a car. You get what you want out of the car, if you put in the requisite fuel! You can’t eat and drink anything for excellence on the track field. Paul Gascogne popularly known as “Gazza” could have been one of the greatest English footballers. He had skill, strength, stamina and was a very good reader of the game, but he had poor conditioning and was injury prone due to his poor dieting habits. He underachieved! What are you feeding your soul and spirit, and to an extent your body? Watch the foods that make you sluggish, overweight & prone to inertia. Please take a personal inventory after reading. Information, like fuel to the car, is food for the soul and spirit. What are you reading, watching and listening?

Treat the rest of this year like an athlete and monitor your energy levels. Don’t let anything or anyone eat at your endurance. Protect your focus and arm yourself with the necessary and relevant information! If I may add, please eat well! Be determined to finish well no matter how you started this year

Till I come your way again…

Peace & Love