runners have a better eschatology than most churchgoers…

So, picking up from my last post, I’d like to reflect on one aspect of my marathon that I found stunning. Call this the fruit of 3 plus hours of running and thinking, or the late stages of delirium, but I couldn’t help but conclude that runners have a better eschatology than most churchgoers.

Here’s the scenario: I’m running with the 3.15 pacer and a group of runners who want to make a 3.15 marathon. Why 3.15? For most of them, it’s the time that one needs to qualify for Boston (you need to qualify for Boston, you can’t just run it, which makes this April marathon so prestigious). After a number of miles, one of the runners asks the pacer, “Will you tell us about Boston?” And then the poetry begins. The pacer tells of the fans, the scenery, the rush, the landmarks, the spectacle of it all. He paints a beautiful picture. I’ve run Boston once and his description brought back wonderful memories.

Three quarters into the race, we have a different pacer and again, someone says, “Tell us about Boston.” Another story, more word pictures, poetry… poetry in motion.

There is no doubt that this conversation is motivating us. It’s pointing to us a goal, a dream, and something that many long to be a part of. What amazes me is that we’re pounding out the miles and starting to feel the burn and breakdown of our legs and minds, and we talk about Boston. What will we do there?

… we will run.

Who, after running 20 plus miles, dreams of running 26 more miles?

Runners do.

And that’s why I think they have a better eschatology… a better view of what is to come.

What if runners who qualified for Boston, went to Boston to sit, and relax, and eat junk food? It would seem odd wouldn’t it? I sometimes hear Christians talk about heaven this way. Some day we “leave it all behind” and go to be in heaven and do what we want, how we want it, relax, enjoy “eternity,” “salvation,” “streets of gold… and coffee shops too.” Sounds cute. Even good for a vacation. But for forever? That sounds boring and it’s no wonder to me that promises of “heaven” don’t thrill many (Which is why many Christians threaten people who think heaven is boring… with hell... another thought I’ll post on, in the future).

What if eternity is like the way runners think of Boston? Runners… run. They continue to work and strive and sweat and pursue. They have goals, they have each other, and they have joy… and they share together an amazing experience that brings tears to their eyes. Is this so far fetched? Is not creation and the first garden filled with work and purpose and togetherness and goals and joy? Is not redemption about a recapturing of all God intended in the first place?

I think so.

Eternity must be for active participants, not for onlookers and bystanders.

Active participants are active today because they realize that eternity isn’t somewhere in the future… eternity starts today…

...and I think this is a great eschatology.