The tortoise or the hare – which one wins the race? Which one is healthier?
It is said that life is a marathon. For certain, life in Christ is a marathon: “You know that many runners enter a race, and only one wins the prize. So run to win!” (I Corinth. 9:24 CEV).
When living for Christ, there are certain things that require sprinting (doing things quickly) – quick to hear (James 1:19), quick to change, quick to repent.
Most of life in Christ, however, is a marathon. Slow, steady, no sudden moves. The sprinter (the hare) impressively blasts out of the gate but then runs out of breath and energy long before the finish line; they flame out and then burn out. The marathoner (the tortoise) unimpressively plods along…slow and steady…especially when dealing with the many traps and pitfalls that life presents (legal matters, moral issues, relationship challenges, business dealings). Slow and steady minimizes stress!
Be the hare when temporary circumstances require sprinting – but don’t sprint for long. To win the race, find the pace of the tortoise and settle into a steady rhythm of living where energy is burned at maximum efficiency and energy is perpetually replenished: “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…they shall run and not be weary…” (Isaiah 40:31). Strong people are healthy people.
