Marathon

Lace up my shoe
mind ready
for the race ahead
focus on what must be done
focus on winning
miles ahead
warmed up
body temperature, just right
muscles loose and ready
at the starting line
Race day
multitudes, multitudes
on the starting line
Yet, only one will win the race ( 1 Cor. 9:24)
I'm determined
I'm committed
It will be me
I want this
I've dreamed about this
it's mine
I was made to win this
Gunshot in the air
We begin
the Marathon of my life
( these next 26 miles
will show my true character-
Will I give up?)

...So far, so good
First hill, done, too easy
I lead the pack
Running like a winner

But, behind me
he came-
old, pale, and relentless
on my heels,
determined to beat me,
to slow me down
Oh, no
We struggle and battle
for miles
back and forth
I questioned myself,
"why are you letting this
old bastard trouble you so?"
"come on, run your race. Focus."
But he was right there
taunting me-
" Say, young buck,
are you running this race, or what?"
"take it easy. If you try this, the pain
will go away and you can go on. It's easy."
I tried to block him out, that old cheat,
even though it sounded tempting.

I had a race to run, a marathon to overcome
I saw the road before me and the pack behind me
"pick up your pace and move on", I said to my soul.
My focus- back on the Race
the Marathon to overcome
till I reach Zion,
where true victory awaits.

Shalam,
Zarach