Finishing strong

I think a lot about finishing strong. I have no particular scripture today. But Paul did think about it too.

He spoke to Timothy about his passing and his passing the torch to Timothy. Timothy was probably Paul's chosen successor. It seems he groomed him for the role. But most of the time we do not get to pick out successor. Timothy was never a major character in the church we don't think.

When Paul spoke of finishing strong and running the race to the finish he was modeling proper disciple behavior to the churches where he was apostle. I'm sure it was true, he really was feeling that. But he wrote it as much for their benefit as for his own.

I am having senior moments. Saturday I tried to go to a party but left without enough information to find where it was. I did some assuming and turned out to be wrong. After I got back home I find I passed right by it. The whole thing is so embarrassing.

At my age you do the math, you realize you have lived more time than you have left. I will not make it to 120.

Still I feel great, had a good workout, I think I can live forever. I do not have a Paul like thorn in the flesh to remind me I am mortal. But things like the Saturday debacle make me serious. However I can get back into denial soon enough.

I got to cheer on the marathoners Sunday. It was great. I felt good about being supportive. I am often not so supportive like that. But it was great to cheer then on, first at mile 5 at 8 AM then later at mile 24 at 11 PM until the track closed at 1 PM. I saw some of the same people twice. It was good to see fellow church members and at least one old buddy from the past.

I also volunteered for water duty at the national half marathon championship held Saturday on part of the same track. That was different. We could not hand them anything. We just set up their water bottles, all neatly marked, on tables. They were told what table to look for their bottles and they came by to get them if they wished. Most did not. The weather was great for the run. This was the top 80 half-marathons by seeding so everyone was bunch up. They all came by within ten minutes of each other, then it was over. First the men, then the women. A few women outpaced some of the slower men but it was pretty much two waves, then it was done.

I got to talk to an old friend who is a serious runner. She knew the names of all these people. Then she went off to do a quick seven miler. heh