05/02/2026 – “The Runner’s Riddle”
“A riddle,” said the teacher. “Two men in a race. The first is a perfect runner, fas, strong, skilled and confident, one who only runs perfect races. The second is slow, clumsy, weak, and unsteady. He’s never been in a race where he didn’t stumble and fall multiple times before the race was over. The two compete in a marathon of widely varying and, at times, dangerous terrain. The second runner finds himself far behind and falling continuously for the entire length of the race. The first runner performs with great speed and skill. In the most treacherous of terrain he falls only once and, apart from that, runs perfectly. So who wins the race?”
“The first runner,” I answered, “From everything you told me, he has to win.”
“But he loses,” said the teacher, “It is the second runner who wins.”
“But how?”
“The first runner runs only perfect races. Once he falls, it’s no longer a perfect race. His race is over. He’s finished. But the second runner isn’t running a perfect race. So when he falls, the race isn’t over.”
“But how do we know he wins?”
“IF he keeps falling for the length of the race, it means he also keeps getting up for the length of the race, until he crosses the finish line. Never forget that. For you too are in a race. Do everything you can to avoid falling. But you won’t win this race by running it perfectly. No one does. But when you fall, remember the runner’s riddle. Get up and get on with it. No matter how great your fall, get up and keep going. And if you fall again, get up again. And if you keep falling, keep getting up again. And if you keep falling and getting up again, you’ll end up crossing the finish line, and you’ll win the race. For this race and this faith are not to those who run perfectly or never fall. Rather, those who win are those who get up after having fallen, and those who fall and get up… are those who win.”
The Mission: Commit today that no matter what, even if you fall, you’ll keep running until you cross the finish line. And if you’ve fallen, make today the day you get up and get going.
Proverbs 24:16; 1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1
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Soli Deo Gloria!