Victory Reserved

If you've never had the joy of competing in a short or long distance triathlon, allow me to fill you in on the particulars.

First, the event consists of three separate sports (swim, bike, run). You train in all three sports as best you can for months and get to the event on race day very early, still a little tired because you couldn't sleep the night before. You check out the course and begin to wonder if the distance seems a little longer than those in your training. Just before you get in line to start the swim, you find without fail that something goes wrong (your goggles break or you forget the race belt). Then you're off. You swim and swim, then realize you are off course, so you correct yourself, zig-zagging across the lake. All the while you are getting kicked by other swimmers, trying to see where you are going with foggy goggles and gulping a fair amount of (less than tasty) water. But then, just as your arms begin to fatigue, the final buoy comes within sight and you head straight for it. You climb out of the water, remove the goggles, cap, and ear plugs, and try to keep from slipping onto your rump.

You reach your bike, helmet goes on, shirt goes on, shoes go on and you are in motion once again. From there it gets a little less chaotic. Cyclists go their own pace and until you get passed by another rider as though you are standing still, your pride is somewhat still intact. You ride and ride, and ride. There are several 'testosterone sprints' as cyclists pass each other back and forth, vying for front position. The ride can be a solemn part of the race, passing by cornfields or lakes, thinking about your day, the reward meal after the race or the friends also in the event that you haven't seen since the start. As you near the bike course exit, you visualize yourself taking off the bike shoes and helmet, putting on the running shoes and thinking, "almost home." You dismount, and in a slight frenzy, quickly walk the bike to your rack location (among hundreds of other bikes). Helmet and cycling shoes get tossed, running shoes and race belt go on, and away you run.

Pace is the name of the game at this juncture. Run just hard enough to push your limits but not so hard that you run out of steam before the end. Just when there are about 2 miles to go, pick up the pace. Just when there is a mile to go, pick up a little more. Just when you hear the cheering, clapping, and announcements, pick it up some more. And just when you see the finish line, give it everything you've got and finish strong.

And even though in this event if you didn't place first or one hundred and first, you are yet victorious. You were victorious long before you crossed the finish line, long before you reached the starting line, even long before this day began. You were victorious in your mind the moment you saw yourself reaching that goal. You were victorious in your words by reminding yourself on those difficult days, "You can do this." You were victorious in your actions when you made sacrifice after sacrifice to prepare yourself to overcome each and every obstacle.

The application is this: Victory is not just reserved for the finish line, but for every triumphant moment of life.

Where are you victorious? Where can you be victorious? The most substantial victory for me is to know that I am a disciple of Christ and consequently, an instrument of God. And not just a blunt instrument, but a fine surgical tool, designed to get in deep below the surface. Designed to help my sphere of influence to recognize that there is freedom in surrender, that there is redemption in repentance, that without God, life is devoid of any tangible meaning.

Each of us has some area of victory to behold (either ongoing or changing) in life, whether we chose it or it is chosen for us. At this moment, it could be to take a step away from giving in to fear, doubt, and disbelief; it could be to take every step possible to restore your marriage; it could be a step to act in obedience to your commitment to Christ (in baptism or love); it could be a step to offer a shoulder to lean on for a friend in need; it could be a step to take courage say 'No' - 'No' to the enemy, 'No' to lies, 'No' to giving up when it is seems there is no hope left to hold on to.

And will some victories fall short? Yes, they most certainly will. But even in defeat do we press on, to rise again. For if we find victories in the little things, the grand victory may just be a little closer than we think.

Nate