There are quite a few scriptures that talk about running (see below), but the one I think of in conjunction with our Running in Faith devotions is the one in 2 Timothy.

This does not say won the race, but finished the race. Someone once told me, "God calls us to be faithful, not necessarily successful." This has been a great comfort to me when my greatest efforts have been thwarted, or I feel I have failed. It is a good motto for any endeavor. Those who run marathons have the satisfaction of completing the journey, whether they come in first or six hundredth. If you do your best and keep the commandments in mind, your striving will be a reward unto itself, even if you do not reach the goal that you intended, Remember another maxim, "It is better to light one candle than to stumble in the darkness". If your efforts help or influence once person, you can count yourself successful. One cold cup of water cannot fill the thirst of the world, but can give life to one parched person. It is the doing that is important.

Do you know the story of the child who was picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean?

Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a child running back and forth between the surf's edge and the beach picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide. The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the child continued the picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf. As he came up to her, he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." She looked up at the man, then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. She turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one!" (adapted from "The Star Thrower", by Loren Eiseley, 1978)

Other references to running

2 Samuel 18.27:
The sentinel said, 'I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' The king said, 'He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.' (Our authors bring good tidings to readers each week.)

Psalm 119.32:
I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding. (Our authors help readers understand some of the more difficult passages in the scriptures.)

Proverbs 18.10:
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. (Our authors develop themes that give power to the name of the Lord.)

Isaiah 40.31:
...but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Our authors show the strength of God in our daily lives.)

Habakkuk 2.2:
Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. (Our authors often give new meaning to old scripture references, and write so that others can often look at the verses with new vision.)

Philippians 2.16:
It is by your holding fast to the Word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Our authors bring the Word of life, written in faith, to our readers.)

Bless and inspire our authors with Thy Holy Spirit. Amen

Contributed by Rosemary
Sunday July 28, 2010
Week 33 of Liturgical Year C
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 15 (Proper 10)
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost