Finishing

Holding firmly the reality that we had at the start.

The start of many a venture is filled with idealism. Brave ideals. Towering concepts. Eternal values. These fuel many a start up venture and enthuse runners at the starting gun. Companies, institutions and families explode from the starting block with great commitment and fervor. Years down the line we see stragglers, victims fallen by the wayside, panting participants valiantly struggling just to keep going and many entirely missing from the track, victims of exhaustion, disappointment and depression.

One wonders if an ideal is hardy enough for the long haul.

Hebrews 3: 14 asks us to hold on not to an ideal, but a reality that we had at the start.

How did we start our race? Was it based on an ideal, a concept, or a reality? This will determine the outcome at the finish line.

Our start often determines our finish, but for that we need to hold on to the reason for our starting at all. Its motivation has to be a flesh and blood reality that enlivens our days and enthuses our miles over mountain passages. A concept may not be good enough.