Struggling

The Hawaiian Ironman. The ultimate ironman test.

Swim - 4kms! Bike - 180kms! Run – 42kms! Just to be able to finish gives you bragging rights for the rest of your life!

It began in 1978 with just 15 competitors. Today over 10,000 compete every year.

In the 1982 race, a 24-year old college student called Julie Moss entered this endurance race as part of her research for her senior thesis on exercise physiology.

Julie had never attempted the race before, and to her amazement she was leading the women’s division out of the water, and was still the first woman off the bike, and feeling OK. As the run wore on, her fatigue increased. But she managed to still be in the lead with only a few hundred metres to run. But it was at that point that her body had had enough – there was nothing left in the tank.

 

She wobbled, her normally strong legs refusing to obey her mental commands. Hundreds of people lining the street on the final stretch cheered her on. But she was staggering all over the place. Down she went. She climbed back to her feet, stumbled a few yards, then down again. Unable to jog anymore, Julie Moss tried to walk, but after a few steps it looked like she was drunk – her body just couldn’t go on. Down she went again.

Race assistants lifted her to her feet. Back then, you could receive help to your feet, but not help to move forward. On her feet, she lurched forward, still leading, the finish line a mere 25 metres away. Down again. She was helped to her feet for just one more step, then down. The crowd noise was unbelievable, urging her on.

As she lay in the chute, her nearest competitor Kathleen McCartney ran past her, denying Julie victory. Everyone expected her to now give up. But there was an extraordinary determination inside, her undeterred spirit wouldn't give up and on her hands and knees, she crawled the last few metres, and collapsed on the line. She reached out her arm to cross the finish line – and then she was carried to the medical tent.

The crowd went wild. They’d just witnessed an extraordinary demonstration of determination.

It had been a struggle; her body had screamed at her to stop, it had virtually shut itself down, refused to move, but Julie’s brain over-rid it, propelling a body without any energy left, just enough to finish what she had begun.

It’s funny - when your struggle is physical, the brain can make you achieve extraordinary things. The body itself is an extremely resilient piece of machinery.

Yet when your struggle is emotional, it works the other way – the body goes out in sympathy.

What was it that got Julie Moss over the line? Firstly, she had a goal. She had a purpose. She had begun a race, and she was determined to finish it.

Secondly, she had courage and determination. As things began to get a bit hard, she didn’t give up. Despite the hurt, despite the pain, she didn’t give in. Courageous. Determined.

And thirdly, she had people there to pick her up. She had people encouraging her. She had people supporting her.

Life can be a struggle. I’m sure each of us has been in a situation where we think we can’t go on. We think we can’t go any further. We feel like giving up.

Perhaps you’re in the midst of a struggle right now. An emotional struggle. A financial struggle. A relationship struggle. A spiritual struggle. A struggle with guilt or shame or bitterness or sadness. Struggling.

I think we can learn something from Julie Moss, and we can learn something from the Bible. We each need a goal, a purpose, something that you can fix your eyes on. One of the writers in the Bible, Paul, wrote this:

I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us up to heaven.

Christians believe that there is a prize at the end of our time on Earth, and though we don’t follow Jesus just to get the prize, it helps us set our focus. What happens to me today is not nearly as important as what will happen eternally. I just focus my energies on pleasing God by the way I live my life. That’s my goal. That’s my purpose. And it lifts me out of my struggles, all the time.

Back to Julie’s example. She displayed courage, determination. Again the Bible has something to say – It was Jesus who continually said to his disciples – don’t be afraid, have courage, I am with you.

I know in my life that believing that the power of Jesus is with me, I can be courageous.

And determination - Paul again gives a great illustration of determination, using another running analogy, in a different section of the Bible:

‘Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.’

The eternal prize helps us keep determined.

And like Julie did, having people alongside to support you, to lift you up, is so important. That’s what a church can be for. A group of people, who because they follow the example of Jesus, are there to lift you up, to support you, to encourage you in your struggles.

If you’re struggling, think about your life’s purpose. If you’re struggling, why not try some Divine help? If you’re struggling, do you have people beside you encouraging and supporting you? If you’re struggling, why not try Jesus? He made a promise, He said this – Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

He did, He does, and He will.

www.salvationarmy.org.au/mornington