Discarded Glove

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1

So, I ran my first half-marathon today.  It was great(ly tiring).

As I drove home tonight, I realized (yet again) how great of a metaphor running is for spiritual strife and progress.

Besides the frustratingly long lines at the porta-potty stops, one thing I didn't expect to see was people tossing their garments onto sidewalks and even in the middle of the street.

No, I do not mean to say that people began to run nude.  But I do mean to say that people threw long-sleeved shirts and sweaters onto the sidewalks and just kept on running ahead, while others took off a glove or two and just dropped them onto the street and never looked back.  At one point, I ran right next to a man who took off his right glove and just let it fall onto the street.  He didn't even flinch.  He cold-heartedly abandoned his right glove right there, in the middle of the street, without glancing back.

Lot's wife could have learned a thing or two from this dude.

Two explanations for this behavior came to mind:

1) These people are so financially comfortable that they feel no remorse over discarding their clothing on the sidewalk or the street.

2) These people were so focused on finishing the race that they did not deem any pieces of lost clothing worthy enough to be kept if they would hinder them from reaching the finish line in a timely fashion.

And here is where the connection lies between running and spiritual progress:

1) We should be so secure in our trust that God is our source that we should feel no sadness, regret, or hesitation when we are compelled to discard something in our lives.  This isn't to say that we should just go around tossing computers, clothes, or family members out of our cars as we drive along the highway.  This isn't a license to be utterly foolish and careless with our belongings.  Rather, if God is really our source, then that means that our bank account is not.  This means that being painfully generous for causes bigger than our own should not be painful.

If God is really our source, then that means that human approval is not.  This means that keeping to our God-given morals at the cost of promotions, praises, and friendships should never be a hassle.

If God is really our source, then that means that imitation joy is not.  This means that trading in our bad habits for godly joy should be the obvious way to go.

The list goes on and on.  If we are genuinely comfortable in knowing that God is our source of everything we need (and not just want), then we should be seeing gains where the world sees losses, and joy where the world sees only sorrow.

2) Is heaven worth your television?  Clearly, the answer is "yes."  But do we really believe this?

This isn't to say that getting to heaven can be achieved through sweat and sheer willpower like reaching the finish line at a race can.  But it is a reminder that seemingly insignificant things that constantly hold us back from God can eventually defeat us.

The runners who threw off shirts and gloves that hindered their movement essentially expressed that these garments were not worth getting to the finish line any later than they desired.  In their eyes, those pieces of clothing were not worthy of their possession if they were going to burden them.

In the same way, we must constantly assess the things we are holding onto in order to determine whether our value system is healthy or out of whack.  The results of not taking part in this self-evaluation could be disastrous.

Now, I did consider the possibility that maybe these people were planning on coming back later to reclaim their discarded garments.  Then a couple seconds later, I deemed this possibility slim.

But the wonderful thing is that those that profess to love God really can expect to get everything back.  This isn't to say that if we give up whatever's in our wallet now, we'll get all of it back to the exact penny in heaven.  But it is to say that the "real thing" that we give up here on earth will be given back to us in eternity.

What I think I mean is that the thing that lies behind or underneath the tangible, earthly object is something that we never really lose or give up.  If we give up what we see as "comfort" in the form of money, friends, and any other objects today, we can expect to reclaim true comfort tomorrow.  If we give up what we see as "peace" today, we can expect to reclaim true peace tomorrow.  If we give up what we see as "joy" today, we can expect to reclaim true joy tomorrow.  And this goes on and on into the deafening and blinding light of eternity.

We trade in the facade for what lies behind the veil.

And this "tossing-of-hindering-garments," focused, and determined attitude is so much easier to maintain when you have people cheering you on from the side of the streets, as we experienced today in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Yeah, basically, everything I just typed is summed up perfectly, better, and much more succinctly by Paul in the verse I placed at the top of this post, but will also place below for your convenience.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1