By Brenda Black
And they're off! Out of the gate, the
beautiful Thoroughbreds seemed evenly matched and mounted. A wave of
chestnut, grey, sorrel and bay on the bottom and fuchsia, teal, green
and yellow on top blurred past the grandstands. For three bends of
the track they stayed tightly packed, but on that final turn,
endurance and expertise separated the winners to the front and to the
finish. In a little over a minute, victory won and a day's work
completed.
A trip to Lexington, KY, demands
viewing a good horse race at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky
Derby. The runners we watched weren't Triple Crown contenders, but
they were just as fun to cheer as any Cigar or Man O War. With no
money wagered, I had nothing to lose. But I still analyzed the
gorgeous creatures in the paddock and picked my favorites, then
hooped and hollered them into the winner's circle.
Having never been to Churchill Downs,
I was tickled to see how close I could get to the contenders prior to
their run. Each equine beauty passed within a few feet of where I
stood behind the rail circling the staging area. The race analyst
talked about each entry's track record, their breeding and age. She
predicted who would run well on this grassy track and who would
falter.
While she methodically itemized odds
and numbers that meant nothing to me, I sized up the potential winner
an entirely different way. I looked into their eyes, observed their
eagerness or complacency. I noted how they walked in soundness and
also with attitude. While others may have been doing the math in
their heads, I was looking for the horse's heart and spirit. I backed
the one that looked and acted like a winner. My pick, Number 9, did
not disappoint. The glistening, stately sorrel crossed the finish
ahead and alone with grace and glory!
I want to be like him! Not for the
wins down here that are just as fleeting as the high-speed
performance in a race that last a minute and the post-win celebration
only a smidgen longer. I want to be like Him! Not to please a fickle
audience that instantly forgets the hard-earned notoriety and is
instantly consumed with the next line-up as the present winner heads
back to the stable to eat hay in anonymity.
I want to be like the winner not for
the photos and pats on the back or the cool splash of water over his
head and the circle of doting investors. I want to be like him for
his heart – to be the one who separates himself from the pack and
clearly shows his colors. I want to be like the winner who visibly
demonstrates a determined spirit. I want to be like the winner who
gives it everything to the finish. I want to be like the winner who
thinks clearly, strategically out-maneuvering the opposition. I want
to be a winning Christian who looks for heaven and never looks back!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set
before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
In this life-long race, made of
millions of furlongs, Lord give me a sound mind, a fierce spirit, and
an eye fixed on the finish! Help me run the race with grace and enter
in to glory! If I can fly like these amazing steeds across the
heavens at my end, I'll be victorious and blessed. Whether I wear a
wreath of roses or a diamond filled crown, what a thrill it will be
to lay them at the feet of Jesus when my race is run.
