Win the Race

The runners approached the starting line.

The morning air was cool, the sky clear, and the anticipation of the race hung in the air.

The starting gun sounded!

And they were off!

Within minutes, a small group of runners took the lead, setting a pace the others seemed unable to maintain.

One runner, already far behind, began to struggle.

His breathing became heavy. His legs grew tired. His muscles ached.

He looked ahead and could barely see the leaders.

He thought to himself ...

"Why am I doing this?"

"I'm not as fast as the others."

"I'm tired."

"I have so many other things I could be doing today."

"Perhaps I should slow down, finish the race, and try harder another day."

And then, another thought entered his mind.

"But this is the only race I will run today."

He began to think about what would happen if he gave up.

Would it become easier to give up tomorrow?

Would the excuses he made today become the same excuses he would make in the next race?

And the next?

And the next?

He realized something.

The greatest competition wasn't running ahead of him. It was running inside him.

It was the voice telling him he was too tired, too slow, too far behind, and that tomorrow would be a better day to give his best.

But tomorrow wasn't today.

And today was the only race he had to run.

Somehow, somewhere deep inside, he found a little more strength.

He lengthened his stride.

He pushed a little harder.

He ran a little faster.

And faster.

One by one, he began passing the runners ahead of him.

His legs still hurt. His breathing was still heavy. And the finish line was still far away.

But something had changed.

Not the race.

He had changed.

With each passing step, his confidence grew. He was no longer thinking about how far behind he was, but how much more he had to give.

Soon, to his utter disbelief, he could see the leaders!

With one final burst of energy, he passed the last runner and crossed the finish line.

First!

He had won the race!

Exhausted, he bent over, placed his hands on his knees, and struggled to catch his breath.

As he stood there, he reflected on the many moments during the race when he almost gave up.

But didn't.

He thought about the excuses he almost accepted.

But didn't.

And he realized that the most important victory wasn't crossing the finish line ahead of everyone else.

It was discovering what he was capable of when he refused to give up on himself.

Now, here's the interesting thing.

We are all running a race.

Every single day.

We run a race with our families — who sometimes seem to need more of our time, patience, understanding, and love than we believe we have to give.

We run a race at work — with its endless responsibilities, expectations, deadlines, challenges, and demands.

We run a race with our health — knowing we should exercise more, eat better, get more rest, and take better care of ourselves.

And sometimes, just like the runner, we become tired.

We make excuses.

• "I'm too tired."

• "Someone else can do it."

• "I've already done enough."

• "I'll try harder tomorrow."

• "It really won't make that much difference."

Sound familiar?

But here's what I believe.

The way we run today's race prepares us for the race we will run tomorrow.

When we choose patience instead of frustration, we become better parents, spouses, and friends.

When we choose excellence instead of mediocrity, we become better coworkers, teammates, and leaders.

When we choose discipline instead of excuses, we become healthier and stronger.

And when we choose to give our best, even when no one is watching, we build something far more valuable than recognition or applause.

We build character.

Now, does this mean we must always finish first?

Absolutely not!

There will always be someone faster, smarter, stronger, or more talented.

There will be days when circumstances beyond our control prevent us from achieving everything we hoped to accomplish.

And there will be days when our best requires us to slow down, recover, or simply be there for someone who needs us.

But winning the race isn't always about beating someone else.

It's about giving the very best of ourselves to the opportunities and responsibilities we have been given today.

Think about that.

We get one chance to live today.

One chance to encourage someone.

One chance to make a difference.

One chance to become a little better than we were yesterday.

And while tomorrow may bring another race, it will never give us the opportunity to run today's race again.

This Friday, take a moment to reflect.

• Where in your life have you been making excuses rather than giving your best?

• What responsibilities have you been putting off until tomorrow?

• Who in your family, workplace, or circle of friends deserves a little more of your time, patience, and attention?

• What could you accomplish if you reached a little deeper, pushed a little harder, and refused to give up on yourself?

And one final thought ...

You don't have to be the fastest runner to become a winner.

You simply have to be willing to give your best when it would be easier to give less.

So, as you begin the race today, remember ...

You may be tired.

You may be behind.

You may have a hundred reasons to slow down or give up.

But this is the only race you will run today.

Take a deep breath, say a prayer, and WIN THE RACE.

Until Next Friday,

Rob