Going the distance

Watching the baseball playoff game between St. Louis Cardinals and the Pirates, Anne, my wife, became excited as the Cardinal pitcher kept pitching after the seventh inning.

Even while watching the American League playoff game, she was talking about Adam Wainwright.

In fact, CBS Sports reported “Adam Wainwright sprinted to the mound for the ninth inning, sending a message that he had plenty left.”

Wainwright wanted every one to know he was going to go the distance.

We are like that in our lives, but not on such a big stage as a major pitcher. I see people in our community fighting cancer, but they keep loving what they are doing. They want to finish the race or go the distance.

It takes a great deal of commitment and fortitude to finish the race of life. There are a lot of potholes along the way. There are troubled times that jump out at you at the most unexpected moments.

Young Timothy had the Apostle Paul as a mentor. We need to have mentors in our lives. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6: 11 -12 “But as for you, man of God, shun all this, pursue righteousness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

There was the challenge Timothy had laid out before him from his mentor. As Christians it is laid out for us also. We should pursue the real values of life. This is not easy in the 21st-century world we live in. Life demands the most of us with the help of God’s as our mentor to be encouragement to go the distance with righteous, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

It is a fight. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I throw up my arms in total despair. I think what the “heck” am I suppose to do? Driving children to school on a bus, I see them coming to the bus with no excitement or enthusiasm. What has happen? Why is Sue or John so unhappy this morning?

As they get off the bus, I tell them the world is smiling at them, and the world wants them have a good time. I know my friends who drive buses for Clarke and other schools are giving encouragement, hope, care and love to the young people on the bus everyday. Drivers are finishing the distance every day.

It is a clash to be cheerful and loving while facing life everyday. Those of you, who read this far, have experienced many same situations. But Apostle Paul gave young Timothy the word to go the distance. Finish the race strong. Wainwright went the distance — nine full innings. May God help us to be encouraged to go the distance.