"...Let us run with patience the race that is set before us..." (Heb. 12:1)
The setting was a cold January morning in a little town in Wisconsin, on the southern shore of
Lake Superior. It happened to be the Saturday when they had their annual dog sled derby on the
ice. A one-mile course had been staked out by sticking little fir trees in the ice. The whole course
was easily visible because of the steep slope of the shore. It was a youngsters' meet and the
contenders ranged all the way from large boys with several dogs and big sleds to one little fellow
who didn't seem over five with a little sled and one small dog. They took off at the signal and the
little fellow with his one dog was quickly outdistanced--he was hardly in the race. All went well
with the rest until, about halfway around, the team that was second started to pass the team then
in the lead. They came too close and the dogs got in a fight. As each team came up the dogs
joined the fight. None seemed to be able to steer clear of it. Soon, from our position about a half
mile away, there was just one big black seething mass of kids and sleds and dogs. None but the
little fellow with his one dog managed to stay clear, and was the only one to finish the race. As I
reflect on the many vexing problems and the stresses of our times that complicate their solutions,
this simple scene from long ago comes vividly to mind, and I draw the obvious moral: No matter
how difficult the challenge or how impossible or hopeless the task may seem, if you are
reasonably sure of your course, just keep on going! (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited,
Tyndale House Publishers, 1988, p. 159).
Let us continue patiently and steadily in our course toward eternal life.