24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
We are responsible for the way we conduct our Christian life. Paul encourages us to give it everything we have, to not hold anything back. He uses the imagery of running a race. We need to run with the inner determination that is necessary to win the race. We need to be single focused when we are running, not distracted by anyone or anything. We can get distracted by those watching the race, by those running with us in the race, by the dirt on the ground, by so many things. I have the tendency to get distracted, probably ADHD. And yet, I have been able to get three college degrees, one Bachelors and two Masters, the last one with a 4.0 average. So how was I able to do that? I kept by eye on the goal. I didn’t allow other things to pull me off course. I figured out what was important and kept moving toward that goal. Now my projects around the house have not always been accomplished with this same sense of single focus. I still have several at various stages of completion. My wife can attest to this. But I have gotten much better at closing the loops over the years. At various stages of life our priorities can shift. When our kids were very little, we had to focus our energies and attentions on them. They needed us that intently. Now that they are married adults, we don’t need to give them that same level of attention. We can place our energies and attentions somewhere else. So just because your energies have shifted does not mean you are failing the Lord. He understands the necessities of life. He knows our hearts, and judges us according to that, not according to some outside, arbitrary standard. Give whatever you are doing for the Lord your full attention and energy, even if it is running after a toddler!
The Arnold Journey 