Running the Race

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The Tortoise and the Hare

I was impressed when the Cross Country team remembered our conversation at the beginning of the season. I asked them why the Tortoise won the race. They looked confused that I would talk about an early childhood fairytale to pre-teens and how this silly story would be helpful. However, when I told them that Tortious won because he was focused, he won because he kept his eye on the prize. However, the Rabbit was overly confident and distracted, which caused him to lose the race. Can you see where I am going with this? I asked the students. I got their undivided attention. I also saw where the Holy Spirit was leading me. Prayerfully, I sought the Lord to direct me, give me a teachable spirit, and show me where I need growth. I saw how, like the Rabbit, my distractions kept me from knowing Him, understanding His word, and receiving His blessings.

As I continued to reflect on this tale, I saw in contrast to the Rabbit, the Tortoise was not without sin. I imagined the weight of his shell slowing him down. Hebrews 12 talks about our struggle against the sin that hinders us. Fear, doubt, and ignorance were just a few of the sins that frustrated me; fear of the future paralyzed me and kept me stuck. I doubted God’s word and His promises; I wrote them down and spoke them with my lips, but my heart was far from Him. I saw God do mighty things in others through His spoken word; why not me, I thought. As Jesus said to the many He healed, “Your faith healed you.” Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains; however, doubt as small as a mustard seed can block our blessings. James says, don’t ask God for anything if you have doubt; such a person is double-minded and is like the waves of the sea. I couldn’t move this mountain; it was by acknowledging my sin of doubt and surrendering my life to Jesus without reservation that He moved the mountain of fear that overpowered me. Nobody likes to be called ignorant, I get that, but God Himself says ignorance is a sin against the knowledge of God. He says, “The lack of knowledge destroys my people, and those without understanding come to ruins” (Hosea 4:1-19).

Also, not only does the weight of our burdens slow us down, but the burdens of others are like wearing iron shackles on our ankles and carrying a beast of obligations on our backs that don’t belong to us. I felt the weight on my shoulders daily. The Lord says in Isaiah 46:1-2 “Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.”

Have you ever felt like you were taking the world’s weight on your shoulders? We hold personal burdens, and when we try to control the behaviors of others, we also carry their burdens; these are co-dependent behaviors. Neuroscience is proving what the Bible has been teaching about sin and the sins of our ancestors since the beginning. Spiritually, we bear the iniquities of our ancestors when we continue in their patterns. “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Moreover, Paul reminds us in Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Our growth also depends on these lessons, and we must practice spiritual disciplines as we run the race outside the physical realm, such as weeds of resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness, which take root when we refuse to change our thinking, by the power of the Holy Spirit, such as grace, love, and compassion. Still, we need to put into practice what we have learned. Jesus talks about an unclean spirit and how it returns sevenfold if the house is unoccupied—gratitude in the place of complaining—optimism in place of pessimism.

“When an impure spirit emerges from a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ It finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and put in order when it arrives. 45 Then it takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” ( Matthew 12:43).

Also, the story of the Three Little Pigs is an allegory to lay a foundation of trust, compassion, kindness, and mutual respect to build up our Team. David Richo’s 5As are a great tool: Acceptance, appreciation, attention, approval, and affection. As a first-time athletic coach, I did not know the children personally, nor did they know me. I needed to build a rapour with them to earn their trust. When we met, I had to lay the foundation; working with children is more challenging than one may think. I had to learn the hard way; every child has their own experiences, and I am not there to manage their behaviors. Children learn behaviors from caregivers, teachers, coaches, etc. Not all children learn the same, and no one-size-fits-all model exists. Using a kindergarten story would be a great tool to build on. Moreover, as I submit to God’s will, I’ve seen the wisdom of the authors of such stories plant pearls of knowledge in their stories; we must be willing to set our pride aside and ask the Holy Spirit to give us a teachable spirit.

First, I’ve realized that I am ministering to the underdeveloped child in me, left behind to reframe the negative connotations into a positive, productive foundation and framework to build upon. Jesus said, put into practice? Secondly, I had to put into practice my trust in the Lord and those He placed around me to guide me in this new endeavor. I was in new territory and terrified of unfamiliar surroundings, but the kids were gracious and forgave me when I admitted my failures. I practiced humility by asking and accepting help from others instead of being too proud. I had to learn to lean on the power of the Holy Spirit instead of allowing fear to overpower me. I witnessed the children show integrity at our first meet when they passed the finish line. Instead of taking their seat, they ran to their fellow teammates who were still running the race and cheered them on to the finish line! What these kids did was so show what integrity looks like.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the Rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the Rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:24-29).

The three pigs who built their house with straw could not withstand the storms of life. They were hurrying and failed to create a firm foundation; their ignorance made them food for the wolf. However, the three little pigs who built their house with brick defeated the wolf. Likewise, Jesus tells the parable of those who build their lives on sinking sand versus those who build on the Rock and have a firm foundation. I recognized that I needed to build a foundation of trust in the Lord by working out my trust muscles when the storms of life come against me. We lead by modeling steadfastness in our Shepherd, the Rock of our foundation, Jesus Christ.

Although I am new to athletic coaching, mental health is just as vital as physical health; it affects every aspect of life. I know from experience that life’s burdens can feel like weights on our ankles, thus slowing us down from accomplishing our goals or even hurting ourselves. As we focus on the Author and Perfecter of our faith, we acknowledge our weaknesses to Him, who can sustain us in all things. Self-awareness helps me see my triggers as signs to pause, seek His strength, be mindful of His Spirit, and visualize ourselves as a child standing on His promises. The simplicity of childlike faith can teach us humility when we set aside our pride, which hinders us or leads to the path of destruction. Yes, we can change the storyline by acknowledging our sins, confessing them, and asking the Holy Spirit for daily guidance. When we are in a hurry, like the Rabbit, we miss out on the many blessings God plants daily on our path, but instead of walking away feeling defeated, rejoice and redirect your focus on the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ.

At the bottom is a link with great tools that help with anxiety; these are just symptoms, and they don’t define us; we are God’s children. These are tools to help as we prayerfully seek the Lord while breathing, grounding, and meditating on His Word. Meditation and praise help us clear our minds of negativity and replace it with positive thoughts, or instead of complaining about a situation, we can find peace as we practice gratitude and place our faith in Jesus. God is our fortress and our strength.

Holy Spirit, I ask that You control my mind and lead me in the ways of the LORD. Like the Rabbit, my mind races and wants to rush to the finish line; I become anxious, distracted, and clumsy. Those are times when I can hurt myself or others; please give me an attitude of gratitude and praise. Remind me that this is not a race to perfectionism; help me stay pace as You lead. Lord, You are my Shepherd. Remind me when I fail You that You are gracious and compassionate, and Your mercies are new every morning; in the Mighty Name of Jesus, give me an attitude of gratitude; may I recognize Your loving hands in everything, Lord. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, amen.

References:

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

Schwartz calls these Legacy Burdens. (Internal Family Systems Therapy, Richard D. Schwartz, 2023).

https://americanliterature.com/childrens-stories/the-three-little-pigs

https://americanliterature.com/author/aesop/short-story/the-tortoise-and-the-hare

Mental health is just as vital as physical health – G96.7. https://g967gulfcoast.com/mental-health-is-just-as-vital-as-physical-health/

https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a46021445/surprising-symptoms-of-anxiety/?source=nl

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a45990390/visualization-techniques/