What race are we running?
A decathlon is a track and field competition in which participants perform in 10 events. The decathlon is widely viewed as the most challenging track and field event, and the athletes are considered to be superior all-around.
In order to compete successfully in a decathlon, an athlete must undergo a great deal of training, as this endeavor draws on different areas of physical skill and judgment. In addition to being strong in each individual discipline, the athlete must be able to coordinate all of the decathlon events together, conserving energy in order to make it all the way through the event. Talented track and field coaches can provide the training, but the athlete must also be highly motivated and have a certain amount of natural talent.
Isn’t life really a decathlon? Who has just one event to master in life? Not me. I started out learning to be a wife, then be a mom of eventually four children, a homeschool teacher for four years and now a full time assistant to who I would consider a decathelete himself. My decathlon has started. Actually it’s been going on for some time. I just didn’t realize it. I was too busy trying to run and win “a” race and couldn’t figure out why I felt I was always losing in some other area of my life.
Then it hit me. Actually I think God hit me upside the head in His own loving way. I found myself spiraling downward and pretty much burnt out. When I stopped trying to juggle everything I couldn’t believe how many races I was trying to take first place in. Common sense should of told me that you can’t run in two or more races at once yet I had spent a majority of my life trying to do just that. I had one of those “aha” moments with my husband as I sat sifting through my state of confusion. I finally said “what’s the point of running a race if you’re not going to try to win?” He in his genius way said that I wasn’t running a typical race rather a decathlon.
After thinking about this I did some research. This type of race requires you to pace yourself. It requires you to not only be strong but smart. In a book by Peter Drucker, The Effective Executive, he pretty much sums what are focus should be – To know at any given moment what the right thing is we should be doing.
If we are to be effective in this life we must combine our strength, skill, and wisdom to not only see the goal but the road map that is coordinating our way. Knowing when to draw on the different areas of physical skill and judgment we posses as we make our way to the goal.
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