Last Saturday, my husband, two of his running buddies, and my son took off to run the Polar Bear Dare. It's a 10K trail run – up hill, down hill, in the mud, through thigh deep water, and repeat for an hour and a half or so. It was physically strenuous, mentally taxing … and really muddy. My husband threw his shoes away after it was over. My son ran a 1 mile event, but after hanging out with the guys, he said he wants to run the 10K next year. He knows what the race is like, but something about Jon, Jay and Bobby and the other runners made him want to run the way they do.
I think that's an amazing compliment.
Now let's apply it to our lives as believers. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." Do you know someone who has a faith that inspires you? Maybe someone who has faced the same kind of trials you have. Someone who makes you want to run like they do.
The flip side is more challenging. Do we encourage others to persevere, to step out in faith, to try hard things just by the way we live our lives? Does anyone look at us and say I want to run like she does, or like he does? If not, now's your chance!
Good luck and watch out for the mud!