Run It Back

Jan was immersed in conversation with a new group of friends when the stories started flowing.  There was the mention that we’ve been to Switzerland quite a few times.  We’ve been to Hawaii.  Twice.  Lake Placid, New York?  Four times.  Leadville, Colorado is a place we’ve been 3 times.  We’ve even been to western Maryland more times than we can count!

While it came up in conversation, I don’t mention it to brag.  All of these trips were ways that we’ve traveled to bike races, triathlon races, duathlons, and other assorted athletic endeavors.  While once time to any of these places is enough to have memories of a lifetime there was often a pull to do it again.  That gentle nudge of going back to experience the race again, to pursue the goal, or to improve a performance.  The kids these days call it “running it back” and I totally get it.  Once is awesome but to do it again brings hope and purpose.   There’s a wildness to trying it again and maybe, just maybe, getting the desired result.  And if I’m being totally honest, I learned more about myself “running things back” than if I were to stop after one attempt.

Two guys that made me think of “running it back” were Elijah and Elisha.  You should read about them.  They are mentioned in 1st and 2nd Kings in the Bible and the life they lived was wild.  They had things set on fire, made axe heads float, and called bears to maul their adversaries.  None of this involved riding a bike or running.  But I am fascinated by their tales and the way God used them.  They also were human and relatable…ever feel inadequate and want to crawl into the wilderness?  They can relate.

But over and over again there are references to “running it back”.  So many of their stories revolve around doing something again.  Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and had them dump water on his offering to God, not once but three times.  God still sent fire and burned it all.  Things happened when they did things over and over.

When Elijah felt like God would end the drought he had his servant check the horizon 7 times for the rain-producing rain cloud.  Seven times!  I would have thought he was crazy after the 3rd time checking.   It was the size of a man’s hand but it ended the drought and Elijah was proven correct!

Elisha followed in Elijah’s footsteps but had to confirm his loyalty and dedication 3 times while Elijah went to different places.  His steadfast dedication to Elijah and his personal mission kept him answering “I will follow” and it’s a good thing he did!  It was a kind of test to keep saying yes.  His blessing depended on it and he was committed to saying yes repeatedly.

Elisha brought a boy back to life after several tries of breathing and laying on him.   Sending a messenger to revive the boy didn’t work.  The first time breathing on him didn’t work either.  But after prayer and a second time the boy coughed and gained his life again.  Elisha ran it back.

He told a leper-ridden general to wash himself not once but 7 times in the Jordan river to be cleansed.  The general thought that would be too easy but reluctantly went and sure enough, the simple act, done repeatedly, healed his skin and built his faith.

These two didn’t have it easy but believed in their personal mission and in God above.  They believed so much so that when things didn’t happen the first time they repeated the process.  Again and again in some cases.  They ran it back in hope, belief, and in trust.

I have gone back to races.  I have committed to putting in the time and training in order to go after a desired result.  Oh how I should commit to praying and acting in faith with the same dedication and fury!  Not giving up when we can’t see the result is quite the endurance sport.

Elijah and Elisha were human but also showed us to not give up after the first try.  Keep praying.  Keep trusting.  Keep at it!  Run it back.  Do it again.  Keep.  Praying. 

A life with God is an endurance sport.  I don’t know why we are surprised at that.  It doesn’t make it easier but the willingness to keep at it and repeat the process is what makes us live a life of faith. 

Don’t stop.  Please don’t.  Give it another go.  Run it back and see what happens.  The story is still being written.  The end could be where you choose to stop but where’s the endurance in that?   Your prize and peace are on the journey of running it back.