Pressing On!

 heart thumping 
 blood pumping 
 I hit my stride 
 and freedom 
 flings feet forward 

 I press on  
 for days and hours 
 scenery 
 fleeing from me 
 so much said and done 

 the coach calls “time” 
 and I cool down 
 flexing muscles 
 drinking water 
 respite freely given 

 my coach wipes 
 clean my knees 
 (I stumbled twice) 
 adjusts my gear 
 and we step out again 

 we’ve taken stock 
 and leaving 
 all behind 
 I’m straining forward 
 pressing ever on 

 to walk with zest 
 and not be weary 
 to run my best 
 and never drop 
 or come undone  

 to use these legs 
 in just the way 
 coach taught me to 
 to sense my heart 
 beat time with his 

 this is the  
 race well run 
 the daily  
 lifelong marathon 
 into his Beyond 

It is indeed a lifelong marathon! I wrote this poem a couple of months after we had returned to Côte d’Ivoire following three years of evacuation. It had been a time full of grief, wondering whether the civil unrest over there would become peaceful enough that we could return, and then accompanying my younger sister through her battle with leukemia which had finally ended with her passing on to Glory. Now, we were back, taking stock, asking the Master for coaching.

He was telling me to keep on pressing on. Ministry that had been idled, waiting our return, was ready to take off. I had never stopped “running” while away—I had completed my seminary training and found ways to help with our church’s short-term ministries, as well as being available for key family times. Now the path had turned a corner. I could only see a short way ahead. The country was divided, rebels were in control. But we were back on the path and our job was to keep running on the path he was put before us.

I remembered feeling this pressure these past weeks while Glenn and I were vacationing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula beside Piatt Lake. My parents had retired there, building a lovely chalet that became their kids’ inheritance. October is my favorite time to be there: few pesky insects, vibrant autumn colors, the peaceful lake and a path in the woods right behind the chalet.

One day the temperatures had dropped to near freezing in the early morning. I walked around the lake anyway and entered the woods on the trail to go home. It was taking me much less time than usual. I realized that the chill had revved up my speed, both so that I would feel warmer but also to get home soon to take a warm shower and make some hot coffee.

The verse that kept echoing in my mind was this one:

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:14 NIV)

“Press on!” It means pushing forward, no matter whether the path goes uphill or downhill, straight ahead or around a curve. What matters is giving it all you’ve got, and running with wisdom so that you get to the goal!

The path in the forest was not always easy; I had to slow down and pay attention to find the little blue diamonds posted from time to time on trees so that you could be sure you were still on the path—it was covered with leaves and wound around clumps of big trees and bushes and fallen limbs. After a rain there would be muddy patches. It stretched across an area that had become a lagoon, the lake pushing in, now receding. One year we had needed to even wade across a turning point since the waters were high; now that was dry.

The analogies to our life race to the finish line are easy to grab. We don’t always know what is around the bend, even when we are navigating “normal” routes with seasonal plans and schedules on the calendar. It is important to pay attention to the signs along the way, and since we have a Coach, we need to listen for his voice. He may say it is time to take a rest and soak in the beauty ( I did that, checking out the lagoon views or looking down at the moss “villages” crawling over tree roots).  He may point out a rough patch ahead, but show how to make it through the tall grasses or ruts and rocks. He may say it is time to charge ahead—someone needs your company or help.

We are not the first to ask for guidance. The writers of the psalms showed us how to pray:

Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths. (Ps. 25:4 CSB)

Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You. (Ps. 143:8 CSB)

Temporary goals are good, necessary for our daily walk or run. My long-term part, our part, is to press on toward the ultimate goal, our high calling to life forever with our Coach, our God and Savior. That is our finishing-point, and none of us can tell how many “miles” we have yet to travel to get there. What we do know is that we are never alone on this marathon, and it will truly be worth every effort we have made when we finally have what we are longing for, when we see Jesus face-to-face!