Finishing Well

In 2012, I ran a 10K. Let my friend Jeri talk me into it, which was a questionable decision at best when it began, but it turned out to be a very good thing.

{I say that because Ryan became my trainer and then we sorta fell in love. Yeah, yeah, I'm that girl.}

When people find out you're running a race, they have all sorts of advice for you. And I was fine with that because I knew whatever is below absolutely NOTHING about running.

Those who had run races before told me things like, "Don't worry...running a race fills you with adrenaline. You'll get around all those runners and it will just push you to do a great job. And there are cheerleaders on the sidelines that will cheer you on...and when you get to the end, you'll feel a burst of energy and just power through."

Clearly these people had never actually met me. I presume the fear of being trampled by the masses in the gates behind me was what some people called "filled with adrenaline." I presumed the pleas to the Lord to not pass out in front of everyone lined up on the sidewalk clapping qualified as being empowered by the cheerleaders. And as for the burst of energy at the end? I'm not even sure knowing a cookie awaited me on the other side of the finish line could have been mistaken as a burst of energy.

The BIG thing they all failed to mention was the amount of HILLS in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It may look flat when you're driving a car, but inside of a race, I was certain that city had turned into the Smoky Mountains. By the time I got through the city, rounded the last corner and began to run around the baseball field toward the finish line...I didn't care about anything except surviving. My time...didn't matter. Impressing anyone with my form...I can't even finish that with a straight face.

And in some ways, finishing this last week of work feels a bit like that 10K would have felt for a real runner. I'm gasping for air {quite literally at times} as my heart and mind feels the stress of doing my very best to train PeggySue to take over my job.

I care. I care that she is able to learn all I can teach. I care that the transition goes as seamlessly as possible. I care that she's able to serve Lynne well and that Lynne's own job isn't slowed down any more than it has to be.

I wrote in my journal the other night that perhaps the reason some people don't finish well in whatever the task, is that they are just too exhausted. They get tired, and they quit. They lose sight of any sort of goals and only care about surviving the thing.

While I may have done that with the race, I don't want to do that with my job. I want to push through to the end with my eyes trained straight ahead {even if it's on a cookie!!}. I ache to finish well.

It's taking a toll on me. My body and mind scream for rest, and I know I just can't. Not just yet. If you're a praying person and can spare some time this week, I would humbly ask for your prayers as I finish this race that means so much to me. I want to do well. I want to make Lynne proud. I want to honor the Lord with my work.

Thanks, friends. You've listened to this transition for weeks, and I'm sure you're getting weary too. I appreciate you so much. Thanks for helping me through the last part.