RUN YOUR RACE!!
- Ewura Ama
- Sep 1, 2022
- 6 min read
I've been on a "break", and this has been a very long break!!
Well, we're back and better and praying for strength to keep going.
And guess what, there are a lot in store for you all.
Sit back,
Relax,
And Enjoy.
Don't forget to grab a drink.
Let's begin with this short story... (short, I think, lol)
Back in high school, I used to run for my house and school. For those who do not know what houses are, in a senior high school setting, we are grouped in dormitories and each dormitory has a name and we generally call them houses.
I was in the Quartey House of my school and yes, that was the best house you could find yourself in.
I'm glad to be an associate of that house and I'd love to choose that house again and again.
I used to partake in our inter-house track and field competition and I can gladly say I excelled in all of my races and events.
The funny part is I didn't know I was good in running long distances till I tried it one day.
I really loved my house back in high school and I couldn't afford seeing my house lose.
We were known for winning consecutively during inter-house track and field games.
But that day we were out of runners for the junior team.
A friend of mine was ready for her 1500m race yet needed a partner to represent the house with.
She had trained, worked hard in preparing for the race and was ready to run.
But here we were looking for someone to represent the house with her.
I could see from the eyes of my house prefects, the distress.
We couldn't afford to make room for other houses to take over; the Quartey house cannot lose, we were meant to win, we're meant for success.
And here was me, this little girl, who had passion for her house.
I couldn't stand to watch my house go down the drain.
This friend of mine came to me asking me to go with her to represent the house and I accepted.
Yes, I did; unprepared but I accepted.
The race began, I was anxious, I didn’t know how I was going to finish this race, whether I was going to disgrace myself, but there was this little faith in me that pushed me to give it a try.
My friend and I held hands throughout the race till we approached the finish line.
Guess what happened, we held the first and second position from the beginning of the race till the end.
We constantly ran this race, not stopping, not slowing down, not walking, not pausing to catch our breath for a while, not focusing fully on the other runners.
It being my first time, I looked back quite a number of times to see who was coming or what was happening behind. That distracted me a bit but gradually, as my years of being an athlete increased, I got better.
Throughout my years of being an athlete there are a number of things I’ve learnt and they occur to me as important scenarios to share to explain some situations. They are quite a lot and I’d be sharing them bit by bit.
Let’s begin with the first on my list;
“Run in your lane.”
During any race, every athlete is assigned a lane and is expected to run in that lane.
Even with long distance running, where all athletes eventually end up running in the same lane, they do not start in the same lane.
Everyone is assigned his or her own lane then eventually cuts into the first lane.
This is the point I’m insinuating;
We've all been called to run, first of all different races; and for those with similar races, we’ve been assigned different lanes. Though we might have similar callings or similar races, we all don't go about it the same way.
Don't run in someone's lane expecting to win. That’s worth disqualification.
We are all to be in our own lanes and as such, must focus on running in our lane.
Focus on how you can finish your race well and excellently. You have no business in someone else’s lane.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1)
You’re helping someone run their race?
Stay in your lane and run yours. Staying in your lane is enough motivation to help someone run theirs. Or like my friend and I, hold hands and run along with the person, but in your respective lanes. Note that with this strategy, it could be draining but what are friends for? We pull each other to the top. Who knows? The friend you’re pulling up would be the one to pull you up soon. So imagine if you left that friend down there, who would be up there with you to pull you? Unless you’d want to come all the way back down and pull that friend all the way up to where you reached, it’s possible. But why will you let yourself go through all that stress whilst you could have done that easier, long ago.
And guess what, time waits for no man. So instead of waiting till you need something before you take an action, let the need come and meet the action, take action before the need arises.
In a race, you are not the only one running. You are not the only one who makes up the race.
You running alone won't be a race, or?
That would just be like jogging or taking a walk or something.
Even with that, you sometimes go along with others.
Races are run in a group not individually.
And as you run, the presence of other people running theirs motivates you to keep pushing and running.
You, stepping into your calling can spark someone's calling.
Imagine yourself in a race, an opponent overtaking you or you seeing people running vigorously behind you, or even beside you; they are focused and they are pressing hard to reach the finish line. Let’s not look at this from the competition point of view but rather, more of motivation; wouldn't that push you to run to the finish line also? Won’t you want to do more to finish yours also or also be focused and run yours? Of course!!
If not, there is a problem, lol!
Let’s draw a line here
Just as I said before, look at others for motivation not for competition or diversion into another lane.
Focus on your race and run to the finish.
Looking at someone run his or her race might entice you to run the same race, but guess what?
You aren't equipped for that race.
What is a 1500m runner doing in a 100m race.
Like how??
What do you expect the outcome to be?
Highly not something beautiful.
The speed for a 100m race is different from that of a 1500m race. The strength to run a 100m race is different from that to run a 1500m race. And even if both races begin at the same time, they'll definitely end at different times.
Don’t be in a rush.
Run at your required speed and wait on the Lord to help you finish well.
You won’t grow weary; you will finish your race well; rely on the Lord.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV).
Focus on your race and run it well.
Accept yourself for who you are.
Accept the race you've been assigned to run and run it well.
You might begin at the same time with someone but the person’s achievements may be quicker, he might finish earlier. His race might be a 100m race. Yours, a 1500m
Don't let life catch up with you.
Run to the finish line at the pace your race requires. Not slow for a 100m race, not with so much speed for a 1500m race.
Stay focused, run in your lane, run your race.
Anytime you’re tired, don’t give up. Rely on God’s strength.
And this is a motivation I used to use as I ran my races and I offer it to you today:
“I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done!”
Thanks for reading all the way to the end, dear reader. Stay connected for more posts and also check out our other social media platforms for more content. SEE Y’ALL.
Love youuuuuuuuuuuu!!
That's really nice. Love you too❣😂🥂
Really niceeee