Day 113: Running

I have come to realize that the people who run faster or farther are not necessarily working harder than those who run slower or less. For instance, the only time my husband has ever felt pushed to his limit was in the last four miles of a 26 mile marathon. I, on the other hand, have often felt that I can not run one more second, and yet, have pushed myself on. This might have been at the end of a 3/4 mile lap as I begin to run again after a long absence, such as for pregnancy. My heart rate can be off the charts running a 9:30 mile for 3 miles, and my husband's heart rate can be nominal doing a 7:30 mile.

So, we come to the question, which is really more noteworthy? The effort or the accomplishment? And, if it is the effort that really matters, can the same be said for spiritual matters? I think it can. We must put forth the effort and then Christ will make up for what we lack. That is the atonement at work. But this is also why we can not judge. What is easy for me, may take quite a lot of effort for someone else. God only knows how hard each of us is working. The question for myself must always be, am I working hard enough?