Perseverance

“As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. ” James 5:11

I was thinking about Lent and its culmination in Easter this past weekend and what all that means to us in our day-to-day lives.

We are taught that Lent is a time for reflection and taking stock. By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for the forty days when he was tempted by the Devil.

“Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:3

So, if I understand correctly, then Lent – and life – is about walking the straight path God intends for us, persevering through thick and thin.

Before I injured my foot and then my knee, I used to run marathons. It’s possible that with enough will power anyone could run a marathon although it might take several hours. But the longer it takes, the more the body feeds on its own muscles for a source of energy to persevere so a lot of runners do what is called interval training. That’s when about midway on a 10 or 12 mile run you sprint for a quarter mile, slow jog for the next quarter mile, and so on for two or three miles. It builds speed into your endurance.

The goal remains at the same distance but by putting yourself through these paces you get there faster.

It also seems to be an apt analogy for situating Lent in the broader context of our lives.

“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.” Hebrews 12:1