Marathon Log.01.  The wind was brutal as I quickened my pace to make it on time for my first day of marathon training.  I was running late, and my desire to get off on the right foot was now a foregone resolution.

I only half concentrated during the initial pep talk.  I stared at the faces of those around me, in an effort to size up my "competition."  Surely I could run 26.2 miles in comparison to the older gentlemen on my left or the heavyset woman on my right.  Then I glanced at the guy next to me.  He already looked the part.  Fit, seemingly confident, and probably has run a million of these before.  I'm realizing that looking at others doesn't help.  I need to snap back to the reality of running my own race.

So I'm running a marathon (if you haven't caught on yet).  Most reactions to my endeavor have been disbelief giving way to subtle admiration.  For many, including myself, it's a sort of superhuman feat.  Maybe it's the restlessness of being a quarter centurian--I've always longed to do one of these things, and at the age of 25, I'm going to do it.

I'm running for a couple of reasons:

1. Life imitating sport.  Running this marathon is such a great metaphor for my life journey.  It's a personal means for which I will take close scrutiny of my own life and how I am running the race in pursuit of the eternal prize that awaits me. 2. Getting rid of the stigma.  The marathon that I chose to run is the AIDS marathon.  Why the AIDS marathon?  I confess I know little about AIDS.  To me, the disease carries a stigma.  Most believers wouldn't choose to participate in AIDS work as a form of ministry.  But as a believer in Christ Jesus I can't say that those stricken with AIDS do not deserve the kingdom of God.  God desires that all men are saved and come to a knowledge of His truth (1 Timothy 2:3).

Care to join me?  This isn't the typical means for which I have asked for your support, but as fellow runners in this race of life I'm inviting you to be a part. 

I'll keep you posted.