Patriots Day

Patriots Day “Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9 vs. 24& 25) In Massachusetts, April 19th is Patriots Day. That gave me two choices to write about today: Paul Revere’s ride or the Boston Marathon. There is a similarity, and it is not direction. The marathon involves over 30,000 participants; one woman and one man will make a six-figure paycheck and win. As many as twenty others will receive appearance money and have good paydays. Most will receive personal gratification and a well-tuned engine for their body from the training and recognition for a great effort. They do it out of the passion that endurance athletes have and the feeling of accomplishment. In 2013, two young terrorists interrupted things a bit at the finish line. That was a sad day for all involved, and it infuriated Americans and the free world. In 2020, a virus shut down group events, including spring athletics. There is a new normal in 2021, but 32,000 registrants lined up to run in Massachusetts. It was a scary and sad year for us. In 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Sam Prescott raced out of Boston with a message that the British were moving out. Their message to the people of greater Boston was the call to arms. Unfortunately, Paul did not get very far because a British patrol picked him up in West Cambridge. However, he got the poem named after him. Dawes and Prescott did not rhyme as well. They were on a mission to benefit humanity, were unselfish, and are American heroes. Being fit is a matter of spirit, mind, and body. Life is not a sprint. It is a marathon. We must race it and live it with our eye on the ultimate prize promised through our faith: “…a crown that will last.” Thought for Today: Let us focus on our race for the prize; take a step closer to perfection. Prayer for Today: We pray for the safety and success of the many runners in Boston. May they be blessed with fitness and great memories. Amen