As Pastor Dave was speaking about finishing well in the conclusion of his series on the life and ministry of Joseph my mind went back fifty years to a league track meet at the send of my sophomore year of high school. Just to put things into a little perspective. I trained for and participated in three events and never did very well in any of them. Physically I was somewhat suited if not talented for discus and shot put. Because I was a smart mouthed teenager (surly not a surprise to those who know me well) I was required to run a lot of laps hence I developed considerable endurance. Since I was not at all talented as a sprinter the coach deemed that I would be a miler, the longest race that we had.

Back to the track meet. I fell on the first turn of the first lap. Subsequently when I resumed the race I was about half a lap back from the leaders. I was able to run fast enough to avoid being lapped even so every other runner was off the track when I came down the home stretch. As I had always done I made my final kick (not a blazing thing at all). It was obvious to all that there was nothing to be gained. I was not going to beat any other runner. A funny thing happened; all of the spectators (not a large number) in the stands rose to their feet, cheered and applauded. Likely it was in relief that race was finally over. I don’t know. My point you ask, what did I learn? The only loser is the person who quits. It would have been much easier to just quit. Likely no one would have even noticed. I knew that I finished strong, I finished the race. Did I win a ribbon; of course not even then I may have learned more than the guy who did win, I don’t know. Maybe I did win something after all.

Pastor Dave’s point this morning was that it does not matter where we are or what has happened along the way we must finish the course and that is God’s will for each of us is to finish strong. It really does not matter how strong we start or what happens through out the course what counts is that we finish and that we finish strong. I am dedicated to that end how about you?