I am SECOND

Ever since I started joining runs (not with my legs,course), people around have been inspired. I actually thought it was a little ridiculous when I got onto the news simply by joining my first 10km run! I mean, tonnes of other people were running but I ended up on the newspaper. How ridiculous was that?! However, I guess this is simply because people like to share stories that inspires them, be it people or sometimes even animals (like the news about the dog that led firemen & police to his owner's burning house).

I just finished my second half marathon so far at the Brooks Half Marathon. Officially, that was my 5th run ever since I participated in the Standard Chartered run July last year. I look at every run I join as an opportunity to inspire others and most of all, to make Jesus' name famous. That's why I would always wear  a shirt with the words "Powered by Jesus" and a verse printed at the back of it. I would normally choose to be slightly behind the crowd of people during a run so that I can pass by more people, and as a result they will be able to see the words on my back. 

With that in mind, I always do still dance on a fine line between inspiring people and glorifying Jesus, and the intention of feeling better about myself by indulging on people's compliments and making MYSELF famous. It's not easy to have the good intention of bringing glory to Jesus, and at the same time fight off the temptation to brag about how well I did, or how I overcome such "hard" obstacles during the run. 

In this Brooks Half Marathon, God was teaching me all over again. I really found this half marathon to be tougher than my previous one in Penang. The hills were steeper and the roads were rougher. It was also the first race where I could actually feel that I was getting cramp during the run. A few runners asked me if I could do it when we were at one of the steeper hills that day. I insisted that I was fine and needed no help when they offered a little push. At the back of my mind, the thought that I can't really take credit for my run really became the real reason why I refused help. Though I really was able & I did go through the hill on my own, I realized the real motivation of doing that on my own.

Along the way towards the final few kilometers,a few runners actually did offered to help me up some hills.Though I was hesitant, I finally gave in and allowed them to help. I actually could feel that God was trying to teach me what it means to really give all credit to Him at the end of my every run. It would mean that I no longer put myself as priority. The pride I was holding on to so that I can claim some credit to my own runs, didn't actually gel well with what I say about all glory to God every time I get a compliment from someone. 

I will continue to train harder so that I "run" stronger, but I will also continue to learn to know that my runs are not about me. It's no longer "my runs", but His. Only then will I be able to say that all glory goes to Jesus alone and truly mean it. I am POWERED BY JESUS. And I AM SECOND!

p/s: To know more about the "I am Second" movement, check out www.iamsecond.com, or find them on Facebook. 

Some of the few people whose lives I was to privileged to have got the chance to make a mark on.

Let me truly learn to say that I am SECOND!