Two Runners, of Equal Talent

9/10/2014

I’ve seen it my whole life. I saw it in primary school. I witnessed it in High School. And again in University. And I have identified it in myself, and in athletes post college, probably because they no longer are surrounded by a coach and daily competitive peers - and they were “posers” until there was no one to pose for any longer ...

Two Runners of equal talent. One, in competition, is FAR superior to the other.

Two Runners of very Equal Talent.

AND... Two Possibilities inside of YOU. One of YOU is far superior to the other, though the potential is identical.

WHY? WHY is potential reached by one, and the other remains mediocre and incidental, throughout his or her life?

For you, for me -- and not speaking of our athletic life, but rather of our SPIRIT-LIFE....

The runner of equal potential but inferior performance is either:

1) Lazy and distracted (an idolater, self-love, sloppy, jokey, moaner, lover of the world, refusal to exercise self-restraint, a fruit of the Spirit if one is Listening -- in the Spiritual Race terminology),

Or,

2) HE OR SHE IS AFRAID. Afraid of ghosts past when running fast blew up in her face, or he’s afraid of goblins future where “I’ve never done this before and what if I blow up, and what will happen if I go too fast or hurt too much, and what will others think if I fail?” AFRAID! Afraid to try, afraid to fail, afraid to hurt, afraid to love, afraid to risk, afraid to look bad, afraid of injury, afraid of others, only..... AFRAID.

Two Runners of equal talent can be separated in accomplishment by as far as the East is from the West. It is truly astonishing just how far apart two equal potentials can be at the Finish Line, neither fully aware of just how close the loser could have been if he simply had the Courage to Be.

1) “He who loves the world is God’s enemy.”

2) “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

-mhp