The Burn

[*Image by Kevin Byrne]


In a few days, the 3 1/2 years spent in graduate school will end for me - a 30 year dream coming down to a masters in counseling.

Runners (of which I am not, but aspire to) talk about a "burn" that comes after miles of running. Everything in their body says "stop - this is too hard!" Leg cramps and seering muscles scream for relief. It's not even about taking a rest, but actually saying "enough, I'm done - I've gone as far as I am able." This doesn't come at the beginning of a run - or even the middle, but at the end when the body protests and begs to stop short of finishing. The body is temporarily confused about the original goal of finishing and takes a moment to sort it out. But not for long . . . a second wind ensues . . . the mind clears . . . the exhiliration of finishing the long-started run pushes the runner along to completion.

The other interns I have shared this journey with and myself are now in the "burn" phase of the run. Two goals prevail: (1) to finish, and (2) to finish well regardless of the "burn." This is not a glory run - but a "run for His pleasure" - finished in His Name. It is exhiliarating!

My husband is a runner. With 30 years experience he testifies to the physiological nature of a runner's burn - the temptation to quit. Though he knows I won't quit, he knows I am feeling the burn. He is a thunderous encouragement at this time of deepest fatigue. Yesterday he called out to my temporary confusion using the words of John Wesley: "Do all the good that you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can to all the people you can as long as you ever can."

Thank you dear husband, because I know you shout it out from experience. God is good and faithful and by His hand I will finish!

By my God, I can leap over a wall. Psalm 18.29