Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 25.03.2010 (Article Archived on 08.04.2010)

In the second reading today, from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, he talks about how he has not yet won the prize, but he is still running the race.

5^th Sunday of Lent

In the second reading today, from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, he talks about how he has not yet won the prize, but he is still running the race.  And how he is racing for the finish, to the final prize which is a place by the side of Jesus.

All of life is a race.  We are all running it, we just have no idea how long it will last.  For some it is very lengthy, for some, way too short.  It is easier for some to run, others have to dodge more obstacles along the way.  Some will approach the route cautiously, and approach the task with more thought, some will run full tilt and see what happens.  Some will suffer more injuries along the way, some will have an easier go of it.

But we will all win in the end.  But what matters in the here and now is how we run the race.  How we approach the challenge is the important thing.  There is a show on television that I have loved since its first season called the Amazing Race.  A dozen teams of two start out and race around the world for a million dollar prize.  Along the way they have challenges, and difficult tasks.  Some are challenging to the body, such as hiking up mountains or searching through hay bales for the proverbial needle in the haystack; some are challenging to the mind, like figuring out puzzling tasks and map reading: some are challenging to the nerves, like bungy jumping or climbing towers.  Some are fun, some scary, but all take a certain amount of skill, determination and plain luck. 

At the end of each leg, the team that arrives at the checkpoint gets eliminated.  Most walk away with a new appreciation for the adventure of life.  They leave glad to have been a part of a great adventure, and a new appreciation for their partner in the game whether it be a spouse, relative or friend. 

It is interesting to see how the teams work together (and believe me some don’t!) and how they approach the tasks.  It is a microcosm of real life, and interesting to see how well some people face challenges, while others fall apart.  But it’s rare that someone gives up.  I’ve seen teams who fell behind at a challenge and know that they face certain elimination, and yet keep going to the very end, determined to go out as  personal winners, knowing they never gave up.  And sometimes they are rewarded by the discovery that they have come last in the rare non-elimination leg!

This is the race of life.  No matter what challenges we face, we have to keep going.  We might hit some road blocks or speed bumps along the way, but they are only meant to make us take a deep breath, do some serious thinking about the route we are on, and figure out to meet the challenge and overcome it.  Then we keep racing.

Another important point is to enjoy the views along the way.  If we get too focused on the end, and the prize, we can miss the enjoyment of the journey.  The teams on The Amazing Race have been to some of most beautiful, remote and amazing places in the world.  They’ve traveled to every continent (well, except Antarctica!) and been privileged to learn about cultures they may never have been aware of.  No one could experience such an adventure and not return a changed person.  All of us who have come to Ascension Island have traveled from somewhere else, so we all know a little of this.  I don’t believe that anyone can visit Ascension and not go home a little different.  Some people never leave the places they were born in, but so long as they appreciate the views, than they are enjoying the race.

So, while we’re all racing to the finish, take those precious moments to enjoy the journey.  Trust in God that the race will take you to some interesting places, know that you might even find yourself in some scary places, but with God at our side, we will never be alone to face the challenges and overcome them.