Which way are your running?

Friday Chapel Readings: 1 Kings 19; Phil 3;

A man was seen fleeing down the passage of a hospital just before his operation. “What's the matter?” he was asked by a staff member. He said, “I heard the nurse say, ‘It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.’" “She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?" replied the concerned staff member. “She wasn't talking to me, “said the terrified patient. “She was talking to the doctor! “

What have you run from in your life?
Elijah, the prophet of God, had just had a powerful encounter with the prophets of Baal. He defeated them – all of them were dead – and he was on a high.
His faith was great. The adrenalin was probably pumping. And he knew God was with him.
And then he received a message from Jezebel, the wife of the King.By this time tomorrow I’ll have you killed! And the guy flees – he runs for his life.
That’s one kind of race. Running away!

Compare that to Paul in our second Bible reading today. Listen to what he says: the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize. It’s flight or fight if you like. We either run from trouble, or we run towards the goal we’ve set in life.

Which way are you running?
Those of you who have had a wake-up call in the exams – are you wanting to bolt? Maybe life has thrown you some other disaster far worse. What will you do? Give up? Be like Elijah? – he just hides away from life – we are told today that he had burn-out. He crashed. If you read the rest of the story we find this.
Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. "It's too much, LORD," he prayed. "Take away my life; I might as well be dead!" It’s an all-time low for this great prophet. Depressed. Suicidal. Messed-up totally.

And God comes to his aid. He is given physical food and nourishment – strength to go on a 40 day journey. He’s not put to bed, curled up with a good book and the TV on. He has to press on. Forward. Like a long march. And on Mount Sinai he eventually hears God again – not in the noisy things of earthquake wind and fire, but in a still small voice – in virtual silence. God speaks.

Sometimes when we’re at the edge, it takes both physical and spiritual restoration before we are brought back. Some of us end up there – at the edge - and then we press on with life again.

For Paul in the New Testament there is a different focus. He had his many trials too.
But it’s his focus on his goals that impresses me: the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize

Forget what is behind. Don’t dwell on the past!
Look forward. Life is a race – and in a race we know the perils of looking behind you. Life is also described as a rat race. The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.

There has to be a better way than winning at the expense of others – or winning and being totally stressed and burned-out. It’s the goal that matters. Avoiding the extreme stress and being a pathetic rat in a rat race comes when we have a goal that is greater, higher, and loftier than just survival. Or money.

We need time out – time for quiet to balance things – time for rest – reflection – listening to the still small voice of God who puts it all into perspective.
Then it is much easier to refocus on the future without the panic. We find a peace and inner calm which makes us so much more disciplined.
Life has thrown some of you some really bad things. Some people have far greater challenges than a bad exam result.

Don’t lose your sense of future – and don’t give up on your goals and dreams! Keep looking ahead! And may you make space and time to hear God speak a good word into your heart and life. You might just find a new and greater purpose to your existence.

It beats being another rat in a rat race.
Amen.