Called to Faithfulness
10.06.2013
When I was a young man, I witnessed my father giving money on several occasions to various individuals who appeared homeless and destitute. On one particular day, I inquired, "Dad, how do you know he won't use that money for alcohol and drugs?"
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My father said, in a confident voice and spirit, "That's not for me to decide, Lee. We are each called to give with an unselfish heart - we are to give a gift and then let it go..." Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) stated this sentiment eloqently: "God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful"...
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How often in our society today we equate "success" with the concepts of acquiring wealth/items/prestige or "winning." It may be one of the single most confusing concepts to internalize and, depending on which definition we instill in our own life, one of the most elusive journeys of Life.
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A climbing colleague told me a number of years ago that "...if you climb long enough, regardless of its altitude, there will be a mountain you won't summit; mostly due to circumstances beyond your control. Does that discount your presence on the mountain entirely? No, it just means your summit is wherever you end up - whether it be at 6000 or 20,000 feet elevation." Called to be faithful, not necessarily successful.
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And this very well pertains to distance running. There have been numerous fellow runners over the years, most recently my friend Sid, who had set out to dedicate a race to another and then - for various reasons beyond their control - were unable to complete their race. Does it discount their attempt at all? No, their finish line is wherever their body needed to stop, despite how far the human will and spirit wished to continue. They were and are each called to be faithful, not necessarily successful.
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It is the mantra that took me through my 51 half marathons in one year for Children's Hospital in 2011. And it is this same mantra that has taken me to my last remaining half marathons of 31 total in 15 weeks for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Dakota Medical Foundation in 2013. Will I finish my final two half marathons and the Chicago Marathon on October 13, 2013? That is not entirely for me to determine; what I bring to each starting line is my sense of faithfulness. Success will have to take a back seat for right now.
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In your own life, my friend, reflecting back over your years and decisions, you may notice that many of those moments you perceived as "less than successful" just needed to be seeded and given time to come to fruition. Often times we are simply too close to the moment - demanding and expecting instant results - to see that our passion, dedication, and faithfulness will reap a bountiful harvest a month, a year, or a decade later.
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In that faithfulness, within the multiple areas of your life, my friend, lies the greater success and courage.
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Be bold, be brave, be faithful... allow history and the Almighty ultimately decide on your effort's "success."