Running the Race

Heb.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 perseverance the race that is set before us

Perseverance can be a difficult lesson to learn. We often just want to throw in the towel and give up.

This evening, I learned a lesson in perseverance from middle schoolers. Tonight was a track meet at Hurricane High School. If you live near us, you may have noticed that the weather was a little -- well -- hard to predict this evening. We had a tornado watch all evening, and the possibility of severe thunderstorms.

We arrived in Hurricane at 4:15. By 5:00, an announcement was made that the track events would be slightly delayed because the Barboursville bus was having problems (Just a minute! How did Barboursville get a bus?). B'ville finally arrived, and they started the events.

After the first event, lightning was seen in the sky. Remember, please, that we are all sitting on metal bleaches. Everybody had to leave the field and go to the gym. Before the meet could resume, we had to have at least 30 minutes with no lightning. State rule.

At this point, I'm thinking -- tornados -- lightning -- severe thunderstorms -- hail -- I think it's time to cancel this meet.

No, perseverance was the word of the day. After 45 minutes in the hot, crowded gymnasium, the head guy announced that the meet would resume. The kids clapped and cheered. Huh? No cheering! Let's go home.

Back out on the field. We sat through rain. I watched two ducks fly overhead, look around and leave. It wasn't even a good place for ducks.

The rain finally cleared up. Umbrellas came down. We spent one hour completing an 800 meter race and two 75 meter hurdle heats. IN ONE HOUR. Apparently there was a dispute on the finish of one of the races, and we persevered until we had some agreement on the matter.

G finally ran his three events: He came in 7th in the 65m high hurdles, 4th in the 4x200m and 4th in the shuttle hurdle relays (we think).

Before the third group of guys could run the shuttle hurdles -- lightning. Back to the gymnasium. Luckily (YEA!) G had already run his race, and we could go home.

Those kids, parents and coaches trudged back to the gym to wait for the lightning to go away. It was 9:30 at night, and the meet was only about half over. Talk about perseverance.

On our drive home, we had brilliant lightning, rain and hail. And once it was over, those kids would be back on that field, running. For all I know, t 11:40pm, they may still be there.