Run With Endurance

Foxes roam Prince Edward Island, but jack rabbits roam the prairies. My son, Chris, took this picture of one when he and I went for a walk the other day.

When I first moved here over two years ago and saw my first jack rabbit, I thought to myself, "What animal is that?" It was too big for a rabbit, had the colouring of a coyote, and moved like a kangaroo. Well, it was a rabbit — a jack rabbit. They are certainly not anything like the bunnies you see at a pet store.

I remember my dad telling me that when he was a teenager he would drive his father's pick-up truck in the farm fields, chasing jack rabbits while someone on the running board shot them. Yes, I am ashamed to say my father did this, because his daughter absolutely loves animals. He thought it was great fun! Whatever.

Jack rabbits are amazingly fast! My sons try to outrun them in the mornings when they go for their run.

The Bible says we are to run the race God has set before us with endurance. We are not to carry excess weight that slows us down — the weight of unforgiveness, anger, jealousy, pride, worry, and affections of this world. Throw off these things that weigh heavily on our hearts, and run with freedom and ease toward the prize set before us. Avoid the sin that so easily trips us up, causes us to fall, and injures us by it's consequences. Run and keep running. Don't slow down, stop, falter, or fall! If you do, get right back up and start running the race again. Don't ever give up!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,

let us strip off every weight that slows us down,

especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Hebrews 12:1