If you are like me, then maybe you have been trying to watch the Olympics as much as possible. Seeing as they only come around once every four years, I try to enjoy it while it lasts.
My favorite events are in the track and field category, but so far I have really enjoyed the swimming races. Knowing that these races can be won by the 1/100th of a second, on the track or on the water, it brings a very important element into play: THE BEGINNING.
The beginning of the race is vitally important to the short sprints. Most of the time, the person that had the quickest start stays in position to maintain the lead. If they had a bad start, then it will be very hard to recover that time and distance. You can watch as these athletes set themselves up in the starting block: their bodies poised as springs ready to explode at the sound of the gun. While watching this, it occured to me that Monday is our starting block.
Most people hate Mondays. They have such a great weekend of fun and family time, but then they really don't look forward to the week starting. Their attitude when Monday comes around is "Is it Monday again??" Monday seems to drag along, as they are already looking forward to Friday. What happens with this type of attitude is that in your work life and in your spirit, it takes a really long time for momentum to build up. Monday drags along, tuesday starts picking up speed, and it really isn't till Wednesday that things are in full swing and productivity mode really sets in.
But what would happen if you had the attitude of a sprinter? What would happen if you viewed Monday as your starting block and the work week was your race? The alarm clock Monday Morning is the gunshot start. If you get the ball rolling in the beginning, then things start getting productive immediately. The work week already starts out as fun instead of being slow and unwanted. Your attitude on Monday will determine the rest of your week. This is why Monday is my favorite day. I look at Monday like a challenge. I want to have the best start possible because that will set the tone for how the week follows.
2 Timothy 2:15 says this:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
If you don't feel like you had a good start this morning don't worry; there is still time to rescue the day. Work hard. Get a good start, so that you can finish the race with perserverance.
Glad to be your Friend,
- Pastor J