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The Finish LineBy Alicia Becton Over 7,500 runners from all 50 states, Canada, Kenya, and several other countries started running the 26.2 miles in the inaugural Country Music Marathon last week in Nashville, Tennessee. Months of training and preparation went into this event, both for the runners and the city. For a church fundraiser, I participated in this marathon (no, not as a runner) by selling paraphernalia to runners and their family and friends that came along for support. Admittedly, it was a much larger event than I expected. I saw and talked with hundreds of people that were running for various reasons: charities, personal goals, or the prize monies being awarded. It would be quite an accomplishment to finish a marathon and I’d buy a T-shirt to prove I did it, too. Needless to say, I was busy selling these T-shirts for hours on end. What impressed me most was the finish line on Saturday. I had done my time working all day Thursday and Friday and was supposed to have Saturday off when I was asked to come back to help. Initially, I wasn’t thrilled about it, but I’m glad I did because being at the finish line (in a tent selling T-shirts) was the best part. Thousands of people lined the last stretch cheering everyone on and it was more emotional than I would have guessed. Families had signs of congratulations and were proudly pointing out the finishers as they crossed. The runners were caught in a mix of elation, pain, and exhaustion. It was easy to respect the dedication they had to make it across the finish line. The fastest time was 2 hours and 12 minutes, but the majority of the runners came in after only 3 or 4 hours. Most of the runners that were interviewed said the course was scenic, but had more hills than they expected or trained for¾ they would be better prepared for next year by training for the hills at home. They also said how great the crowds were all along the course cheering, handing out water and fruit, and giving high-fives to everyone. Some even said that they did not initially intend to finish the race, but just used this marathon as training for a future marathon. But when they tried to stop, the crowds were so encouraging that they kept pushing all the way to the finish line. Others would see friends and say, "See you at the finish line!" as they passed each other. "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." (Romans 14:7). We really do affect those we are running alongside in our race. We can choose to affect them positively or negatively. Scripture says, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 5:7) In our race to the finish there are also hills and valleys, triumphs and tragedies. Paul wrote, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24) Of course, this says it all: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (II Timothy 4:7) See you at the finish line. ninetyandnine.com Article © 2000, Alicia Becton ------- Alicia Becton works in the insurance field and coaches a Junior Bible Quizzing team in Nashville. A graduate of the University of Missouri - St. Louis, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics, she travels the country often¾ though she tries to avoid the boring drive between Nashville and St. Louis whenever possible.
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