The mass of people prefer the easy way. William H. Danforth

If you're like me, you like it when things go your way. The day just seems better when everything  falls into place. The only problem with everything going our way is that we never grow, because it is in the struggle that we learn to excel.

Two years ago, in the 110 meter hurdles at the Texas state track meet, I witnessed excellence firsthand. The runner in second place was rapidly gaining on the first place runner and appeared to have the gold medal in hand. Then she tripped over the final hurdle - at full speed she tripped and landed squarely on her face. Now we have all fallen on our faces at one time or another but it was what happened next that revealed the character of this young lady:

She got up and finished the race.

Then, walking back with the rest of the runners who had finished out of the medals (a walk that I had witnessed many times that day, each time having noted that most of those who considered themselves "losers" went by with heads hanging or pouting expressions) this girl walked with dignity and poise. And the crowd cheered. And she, anything but a loser, looked with wonder into the stands and thanked those near to her for their kindness.

She had to be crushed to have worked so hard to get to State only to have her dreams dashed at the very moment victory seemed so near. Though she did not accomplish what she had hoped and trained for, she achieved something far greater: She finished the race.

There is a lesson here for you and I. If we are to ever accomplish anything worthwhile in life we will, from time to time, have to pick ourselves up after disappointing (and sometimes embarrassing) falls and finish the race. If we will do that, we will someday receive the victor's crown that has been promised to those willing to serve the Master to the best of their ability.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's Grace. Acts 20:24, NIV