I am convinced that most people have not come close to being the best they can be. I came to this insight gradually over the past year or so. I always thought that I am running as best as I can run. Yet, as mentioned in another blog, I was not. How else is it possible for me to still improve my times at the age of 47? If I knew what I know now twenty years ago, things might have been different.

The problem is with what we believe is the end of our abilities. If you think you have reached it, then you are sadly mistaken. Sadly, because if you believe that to be true, it may become your ceiling. Most runners I know, are capable of becoming much, much better. If you are just running for the exercise or the fun (Both of which I am doing, but not just…), then it is okay. If you want to really see what you are capable of, then there is probably much more for you to accomplish.

And this is not only true for running. This goes for anything that you have a passion for.

At this point, I need to say something about calling. Calling is what God created us for. This word acknowledges that there is Someone that calls. I believe that it is only in a relationship with our Creator that we can find our calling. Each one of us was created with a purpose. Our first calling is to know Him. And then, knowing his will for us. And often that correlates to our passion. (But be careful, since burning ambition could masquerade as passion, and ambition is often selfish and the opposite of what God wants us to do.)

What would happen if you started believing in that passion of yours and you started acting on that belief? It is often our lack of belief that stops us from doing what is necessary to achieve the potential that God created us for. We believe – we act. We believe – we persevere if we do not have success immediately. We believe – we overcome obstacles.

 

To be honest, I am passionate about many things. Family, running, mentoring and coaching, blogging, making music. In all of this, my calling is to somehow be an instrument of God. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus affirmed with this that there aren’t multiple paths to God. There is only one way. Ask Him to show you the truth and the way and He will do that and also give you real life.

Don’t be mediocre. You and I were made for so much more than that. Another verse in the Bible sums up how I feel about this: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (The letter of Paul to the Colossians 3:23)

Keep running

Stephan