A few summers ago two Britishers ran 2,027 miles along the length of the 14 highest mountains in the world. In the process they climbed a whopping 290,000 feet and traversed 64 mountain passes. The Himalayas furnish some pretty grueling terrain, indeed.

Brothers Richard and Adrian Crane ran their Himalayan trek in a record 101 days, all in hopes of raising money for a British charity. As it turned out, they suffered heat exhaustion, dysentery, heel blisters, torn nails, bruises, and bleeding feet -- plus one nasty gash to the head from a rock fall -- to raise all of $10,700 by journey's end. That works out to less than two cents per thousand steps they pounded out. One hopes a few more donations have come in since!

Imagine trying to accomplish such a mega-marathon feat. Especially if, like the Crane brothers, you had spent only two weekends running through the countryside before flying off to Barjeeling, India, to start your adventure.

The Cranes said their primary training was mental, not physical. You know the concept: "Put your mind to it, and you can do anything." While that does not always prove true, we all have a mind for something, whether it's music money, power, sports, respectability, social status, a happy home, or a comfortable life. Everybody is dedicated to something.

At some point, however, either at our conversion or sometime later, we all have to answer some important questions. Will I dedicate my life to Jesus Christ? Will I make everything else secondary and live for Him? Will I seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Is it true for me that "to live is Christ"?


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Illustration taken from:  Luis Palau's book, How to Renew Your Spiritual Passion, Discovery House, 1995.