A story that resonates deeply with me is that of John Akhwari. As
the story goes, only a few thousand spectators remained in Mexico City’s
stadium at 7 pm, Oct 20, 1968. Mamo Wolde, was the 26-year old Ethiopian who had
won the 26 mile, 385 yard marathon event just an hour earlier, then the others
finished.
us soul asked John Akhwari why had he bothered to finish the race, why he
had not quit the race. He only reply was this piece of wisdom: “My country did
not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish
it.”
From walkingingwithwarner.blogspot.com
Our challenge is to finish well the race to which the Lord of our lives has called each of us.
I for one, plan to finish as best able that which I have started.
As those remaining prepared to leave the stadium, sirens and
police whistles suddenly turned every-one’s eyes toward the gate. A long figure
wearing Tanzanian colors entered the stadium. It was that of John Stephen
Akhwari. Akhwari hobbled around the 400 meter track as best he could. His leg was
bloodied and bandaged from a bad fall he had experienced earlier. He grimaced
with every step he took.
On seeing the long figure approach the finish, the crowd remaining
arose and applauded as if he were the winner. After crossing the finish line, Akhwari
walked slowly away.In view of his injury and with no chance to win a medal, one
curio
Your faith, mixed with good old grit and determination and
common sense has brought you this far. Being a good Christian steward means much
more than making a good start (cf I Peter 4:10). The biblical writer of Hebrews
reminds us “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen” (11:1). He further reminds us (12:4) of the crowd of witnesses
who have already completed the race and crossed the finish line.
And so, what is the message for us? It is the wisdom spoken by this young Tanzania: “My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it.”
And so, what is the message for us? It is the wisdom spoken by this young Tanzania: “My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it.”
Our challenge is to finish well the race to which the Lord of our lives has called each of us.
I for one, plan to finish as best able that which I have started.
What about you?
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