sprint to the finish

http://www.vimeo.com/19909263

you should watch this video. tfa summit, baby.

at the beginning of this teach for america adventure, i posted a story i had heard from a pastor in good old college station. at the time, this little blog had 5 readers. now, i have about 10. thanks for being here. thank you.

it's officially 44 school days to the end of this teach for america committment, and i am desperately in need of this story. and i must interject that i greatly admire my dear friends who are staying in the classroom, who will continue to lose sleep and sacrifice free time to make a true difference in the lives of children who desperately need it. i don't know if admire is even the correct word - i'm still searching for it.

i won't bore you with the details of my decision to leave the classroom, we can discuss that another day. the point of this post is to revisit that great story. at first, it was to give me strength for the two years. all i need now is strength for 44 days. energy and focus and the awareness that i could really impact these kids for the next 44 days or i could just sit at my desk and make it through each day alive. and for any of you who are not teachers, or not 44 days away from a career change, it's just a great motivational story to get your engines firing. or refuel. or whatever.

I keep a note in my bible from a sermon I heard in college, it's the synopsis of an inspiring true story from the 1968 Summer Olympics.

A runner from Tanzania became very injured during the marathon in Mexico City, and his leg was gushing blood for miles - he even developed a very visible, quite severe limp. But the runner pressed on - and he crossed that finish line an hour and a half after the finisher, which in the Olympics is practically a lifetime.

However, hundreds of thousands of people remained in the stadium to wait for his arrival, to cheer for him loudly and show their support. After the race, the Olympian was asked during an interview how he had found the strength to finish the 26.2 miles.

"You don't understand," said the runner. "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race. They sent me to finish it."

Sometimes when I'm tired or feel worthless, I lose sight of the fact that God has brought us to different tasks for a reason, and he provides us with the hope and strength to complete them. Even if that task is as simple as walking in love everyday... or as difficult as running a marathon with a bloody leg.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14