God's Coaching #57

God's Coaching #57

Diane Van Deren had been running for 12 days when she crossed the finish line of the Yukon Arctic Ultramarathon on this day in 2009. She had run 430 miles in the dead of winter. Temperatures were negative 30 degrees. But that wasn’t the worst part. On the 11th day, Diane broke through the ice and fell shoulder deep into icy water. Her boots froze to her feet. Still, Diane was the first and only woman to complete the race.

Had Diane lost her mind to want to run races like the Yukon Ultramarathon? Well, only a part of it. Doctors removed a racquetball-size part of Diane’s brain to help her terrible epileptic seizures. The surgery got rid of the seizures, but Diane also lost a lot of her memory and organization skills. But for some reason, Diane could also run for hours without stopping. Her lack of memory helped, too, because she literally couldn’t remember how long or how far she had gone. Running was Diane’s therapy. In a race like the Yukon, she got plenty of it.

What’s the Score?

Diane’s lack of memory helped her run, but it was a big challenge in life. She chose to put her limitations behind her and make the most of what they enabled her to do.

Most of us won’t have part of our brain removed, but a bigger part of us has been removed by Christ—our sin. Paul told us to forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). Why? “To reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14). We all have something we need to overcome. Sometimes challenges in one part of our lives can be strengths in another part of it. Look ahead to God’s finish line, and keep running for it.

On the Ball

Run 430 miles, and see how you feel. Just kidding. But take a short run around your neighborhood. Pray as you go, and let God clear your head of any troubles that are bothering you.

Coach’s Comment

I have not achieved [perfection], but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13