keep on keepin’ on…

One thing that I have learned over the years is that life can be tough.  I haven’t had a bad life and have many things to be thankful for, but, just like anyone else, I have had some tough times.  I have had some times where I really had to dig deep and push forward.  For the most part, I am generally a positive person and stay optimistic.  It really takes a lot to get me down. 

If you have known me for very long you have probably heard me tell this story, but for those who haven’t i will tell it again.  Besides, I love it…  Back when I first started youth pastoring in Fort Wayne, IN, a street preacher from Chicago came to visit our church.  He was crazy in the best way.  One day I was standing at the front of the church sactuary and this guy comes running full sprint towards me from the back.  Then about halfway, he slows to a jog, then starts walking, then, a few steps away, he drops to his knees, crawls a bit, and then lays down right at my feet with his arm stretched out pointing at me!

He doesn’t move.  Then, all of a sudden, he jumps up and says, “that’s what you gotta do!  You find out what direction God wants you to go and then you run as hard as you can for as long as you can.  When you can’t run anymore, you jog.  When you can’t jog anymore, you walk.  When you can’t walk anymore, you crawl.  When you can’t crawl anymore, you lay down and pass out pointing in the right direction so when you wake up, you can get up run again!”

Some would say that it is better to pace yourself and this is probably a horrible example to include on a sports related website.  However, the point I want to make is that we must keep on keepin’ on.  Whether you are in a race or in a fight.  Whether we are talking about a relationship, sickness, a spiritual journey.  We must press on!  

In 2 Timothy the Apostle Paul says,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

This is a guy who ran into some hard times and went trhough some incredible struggles, but he says that he kept on going and that is what we must do.

No matter what happens… keep on keepin’ on!