Youthful exuberence

How many mistakes did you and I make in our growing up years? Never mind, we don't have enough time and space to address them all here.

Mistakes can be painful and then, sometimes they can be helpful. Take for instance this young man named Evan. He must like to run. He hadn't planned on running 26.2 miles but his mistake enabled him to make the news. I wonder what he was thinking as he passed some of the timing stations that displayed the clock and distance? Hmmm, 25 kilometers? I think I missed my turn. Oh well, I'm here; I might as well keep running.

Okay, for the record, I slog through a half marathon and am pretty much grasping for strength, breath, and stamina at the end. If I had missed the turn and saw mile 15, I would have veered off course and ran back to the finish (or collapsed). That my friends is the mind of a 55 year old. Evan, a teen, not only has youth and fresh legs but has a young mind. He probably never considered stopping, In fact, he didn't.

The reaction to our mistakes tells a lot about our self esteem. If we over react and get emotional, it's likely our failure has magnified our low self perception. Our perfectionism creates a hurdle we fail to clear (at least in our mind). This mindest can act like cancer cells. It spreads and debilitates.

If we shrug off our boo-boo, it's likely that we are okay with the mistake and push on knowing that it will be alright. The hurdles we knock over teach us how to approach the next one with better form, intent, and execution. This mindset looks at failures as part of the classroom of learnable moments.

Hmmmm, just think of a marathon with hurdles every couple hundred yards!!!!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that

hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for

us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him

endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

(Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)

If you have ever run a footrace, you know the power the cheering crowd can provide to weary legs, scorched lungs, and a defeated mind. Just know, the race you and I are running is long. It is going to contain victories and failures. Take heart and learn from your mistakes and understand Jesus still loves you even when you make a wrong turn. He awaits us at the finish line with an atta boy...atta girl!