Thoughts for the Day

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

At this point having sat at my computer for ten months creating 'Thoughts for the Day' I am definitely not a honed athlete, physically. However, spiritually I feel alive and on course. St Paul uses the idea of an elite athlete, one who trains for up to a year before entering the Isthmian Games, second only to the Olympic ones, which were based in Corinth. Such an athlete would be self-disciplined with their eye on winning the race and gaining the prize.

The Greeks had a saying "Know thyself", and we need to remember this; we cannot serve others if we cannot master ourselves; and we cannot teach others about God if we haven't found him ourselves. Lastly we are aiming for the ultimate prize, not a laurel wreathe that will be dead in a week. So we need to discipline our minds and our souls - if we refuse to think we can lose the ability to think - so what about our souls? These 'Thoughts' might help, but what other ways can you find?

Heavenly Father,
keep us ever straining forward
to reach the ultimate goal
and the real prize.
Help us not to take our eyes
from You,
but to discipline our minds
and nurture our souls,
as we grow closer to You.
Amen.