Running the race is only worth it at the end.....

This weekend I embarked on a fresh challenge in my life. I had entered the Great North Run, a 13.1 mile stretch of road with a few hills sandwiched in the middle, a hot sunny day which turned wet and cold and I was all alone with no one to cheer me on. I enjoy running (sometimes) and I genuinely do enjoy the challenge of long distance races, figuring out whether your body can hack the pavement pounding and deciding whether you can speed up to beat that time you want. It's addictive and it's fun.

ASICS is a well know shoe manufacturer for runners. The term comes from a Latin Phrase, 'Anima Sana In Corpore Sano', which loosely translates as 'A sound mind in a sound body'. Running does that believe it or not, it gives you this releasing of your worries, your thoughts, your stress as well as aiding your physical fitness and health. Some researches would also argue it builds character, giving us opportunities to problem solve and use our fight or flight survival instincts in ways not seen normally in our day to day lives. Running on a whole, the experts would say, is much more than being fit. On my way from Newcastle to South Shields using my running feet I had a dull feeling about the race, this race I was not enjoying, what spurred me on was getting a good time and receiving that finishes medal at the end.

2 Hours 18 minutes and 54 seconds later I crossed the line, a hard 13.1miles completed, psychological challenges overcame and I felt...... Indifferent??? I crossed the line, picked up my bag, got my medal, went to the celebratory reception with Christian Aid (Who I was running for), got in my car and drove to Nottingham. My indifference may have been due to being on my own, no one to share the occasion with, but on that long stop start drive to Nottingham I got thinking about something else. The only reason I did that race was for the feeling at the end, the joy at getting a time I could be proud of, the celebration with friends and family and the feeling I had achieved something. If I never started with those feelings and spurring thoughts then I would never have completed the race, or kept running when my legs said stop!!

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Again in Galatians 5 he states

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

And finally the writer to the Hebrews states in Hebrews 12

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

There's one issue that my journeying thoughts from the Great North Run left me with. Maybe the reason why so many fall in this race, get fed up and settle for mediocrity in their discipleship, don't persevere, get knocked down and struggle to get back up is that we truly don't know what we're running for. We don't get this kingdom of Heaven, these glorious riches in Christ, this finish line. We can't see anything but the hills, steep inclines, cold winters of training and sore knees ahead. I have met countless Salvationists (some officers) who look as if they have ran spiritual Marathons everyday for their entire lives, so bereft of joy, freedom and fulfillment and who just don't see the kingdom awaiting them, the kingdom that they are running for today and everyday.

In this race of life and discipleship we not only need to know what we are running for, the finish line that is to come, but also that our running, our living life builds character, perseverance and endurance. We get spiritually fit, mentally strong and full of grace. This race, this discipleship is a win-win. The end will be amazing and the run, though hard, hurtful and often broken is building in us a strength which comes for him called Christ.

I left Newcastle a little deflated at not sharing my triumph with my Wife, Son and parents, but on my drive to Nottingham was deeply thankful that the race I run each day will conclude with cheers, celebrations and joy from my Saviour, my Family and everyone in between. All I have to do is put one step in front of the other and don't stop.

Who really has the 'X Factor'

So you may or may not know I love 'Glee'. I am not ashamed of this and actually think this it is rather cool (This sentence probably ruins any degree of coolness I may have, if not, then the word coolness certainly does). What I am rather embarrassed about however is a secret love of the 'X Factor'. Sure it's produced and manipulated, I'm not stupid enough to believe they filmed them in their bedrooms getting ready BEFORE the auditions. But I think it's great TV, great singers, terrible singers with drama and rudeness as the filling. TV Gold I say as do millions of viewers. Now I recognise that you may be ready to press that little cross in the corner of your window right now so I'll try to save it.....

This Saturday just gone, a young lady, sporting some leggings, an Adidas plain tracksuit top and from Fife took to the stage. Her name was Jade and she was not one of the glammed up models who 'think' they can sing, nor was she a total sob story. She was normal, she had a past (We all do) and she was looking to the future. She had a normal loving family and friends back stage and a normal persona (none of this wacky in your face stuff). And she sang, and man did she sing. The song was the emotive 'someone like you' by Adele, but it wasn't the song that was the deal breaker but her voice, the emotion and connection the voice made. The room exploded with feeling and applause. As I sat their on my corner sofa watching trashy TV, Gary Barlow opened his lips and God spoke....

Woahhh lets be clear here I am not saying Gary Barlow is God, put away the pitchforks and flaming torches and let me explain. Mr Barlow uttered the words "...that is a God given Talent, you were born to sing...". Immediately I heard something different to probably many in the UK. This throwaway comment that is said to countless people without really thinking about what is being said became a weight on me and got me thinking. The programme asks 'Have you got the X Factor?' My question became 'Who gave her the X Factor?'. If there are people who were born to sing, who have natural talent, whether on the football pitch, on the stage or in the church where does that come from?

I got a sense, as I watched this normal girl that seemingly deserved a break, that God was smiling, that God was enjoying the moment as much as we were. I was not filled with a distaste that Jade was not using her voice for worship but an appreciation that this gift of music given to Jade was being enjoyed and shared. This, if I'm honest, is a difficult one for me. I believe in Spiritual Gifts given to those who follow Christ, I believe God wants to see us use our gifts to further his Kingdom and I'm not sure whether the X Factor qualifies as extending God's Kingdom. But I cannot shake this sense that in the room after Jade had sung, and in millions of homes around the UK, there was something good, something great and that that something came from God.

I believe every person is given gifts (not spiritual gifts necessarily), that we are all bestowed with things to bless and make this world a better place, a more enjoyable, joyful, amazing place. Whether that be Rooney's right peg, John Mayers awesome guitar fingers, Eisnstein's brains or a young ladies voice from Fife. You get the gist of what I'm saying so tell me what do you think? Who really has the X factor??