A journey of faith, writing a story, and running a marathon have a lot of things in common. They're all not a race. It does not matter who finished first or who ran the course the fastest. It doesn't matter how far you went or how ragged the course ran you. It matters that you cross the finish line. It matters that you don't quit. All those long miles that you trekked mean something and when you get to the end, you feel this complete joy. That you accomplished what you set out to do. I have written a few stories and I have ran a marathon, too. I know the feeling well. The feeling that no matter what toll the course had on your body, mind, spirit, and soul that it was the right thing to do, that you felt compelled to embark on this course. You gave it all you had and then some more. I haven't finished my journey of faith yet, but I know when I do, that the joy and providence from it will be the greatest feeling I ever will have, more than anything I could imagine or dream of. Each day I move the distance of one grain of sand in this journey. The road will be rough and it will seem everlasting for a short while. And then I will learn the true meaning of words like eternal and love. I will leave this world and go down the path that no one returns from. I will come over the hill and a clearing will be at the foot of the hill. Waiting there for me will be all of my loved ones. Such is the glory of His kingdom, forever and ever.
"The very definition of our lives lies within our footsteps. Every step we take brings us that much closer to our destiny."---Samuel Levi VanGeison