My brother and I spent time talking finances with a guy at the bank. Turns out when he’s not talking stocks and bonds, he runs, and in fact had recently completed a triathlon.
He swam for a couple miles, biked for a bunch more, and, when he “was really warmed up,” ran for 26 more!
How did he keep going, we asked him.
“Well, around mile 23, I can’t think about anything else but Left! Right! Left! Right!”
The brilliant simplicity of this has stayed with me. Yes, going Left! Right! Left! Right! long enough does get you to the end of the race. That is enough thought for now.
Going Left! Right! Left! Right! focuses you when you have no more steam, nor desire to get any, when you wish you could be anywhere else, doing something else, anything else.You’re not at the beginning, you can’t see the end, and what are you supposed to do with all this middle?
Yet.
If we talk back to the treacherous thoughts that easily trip us up at such times, instead narrowing our focus to putting down this foot, then that… then this one again and then that one again… doing what we can, the best we can, with whatever strength we have, we really will make it all the way to evening.
And look! our beds are waiting! At that point, I think we gratefully ease into them knowing we did what we could, even if it wasn’t all we had hoped for. We thank God for whatever good was done. And we ask for strength and wisdom to do what we can tomorrow.
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”
MaryAnne Radmacher
So maybe today is one of those Real Skater days I spoke of before, when you can zip around your responsibilities with strength and true pleasure and energy.
But if it is not — if it rather feels you’re at mile 23 in your own personal triathlon, with throbbing feet, sweat-pricked eyes, and the growing suspicion somebody has moved the finish line — remember this: Left! Right! Left! Right!
Please hang in there. Lots of us are running with you, and we can help each other. Stay the course. Take heart. Do the next thing.
Left! Right! Left! Right!
You’ll get there.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8