Break Out The Spurs

It is the last stretch.

It is the second of seven last stretches for me. Brian is pushing toward the end of his high school career, and we’re about to launch him into the world. You know, pushing him out of the nest into the wild blue yonder. Or the wild camo yonder, as the case may be.

Brian’s first tour with the Marine ‘pool meeting’ included running. Like the wind, Bullseye! He wasn’t used to such a hard run and nearly stopped during the last stretch. One of the Marines, seeing him lag, ran up behind him and put a hand in his back. He pushed. He wouldn’t let Brian stop. From his position behind Brian, he could talk in Brian’s ear…words only meant for him. You can do this. In order to accomplish this, the Marine had to slow his own pace, pull up behind the others, and come in later than he would have. Because of his efforts to encourage, Brian ran the whole way. Well, he threw up when they stopped, but he ran the whole way. J And he showed the Marines that he can run until he throws up.

As we’re going through the last months of school, Brian is trying not to lag. He’s working full time, pulling off an A in Advanced Physics, and still working on all of his other courses, a total of 12 credits (as opposed to the usual 6 or 7). Given the amount of time left, looking at the whole picture is a little frightening. No diploma, no Marines. Now is when he needs that hand in his back, pushing, not letting him stop, spurring him on until he throws up – at the finish line.

It’s that ‘coming along side’ thing, without which many of us would not make it. Everyone needs a hand up from time to time. Then, when they’re up, they know how to lend a hand up to someone else. The Marines, and the police officers, I’ve discovered, know the meaning of coming along side. This takes many forms, but ultimately, it encourages, scares or angers you into going the rest of the way, of completing a task you thought you might not be able to do.

Much of the New Testament was written with military terms. Perhaps this was because of Rome, which was very military minded. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on…” was a military reference. Spur. Kick. Poke. But get them going. So, break out the spurs. And bring a bucket – I think he’s going to throw up. But it won’t be until he passed the finish line.