It’s 3:45 a.m. Just twenty minutes left to go. I can still back out, but I’ve come too far. I just need a short rest then I’ll get back up and join the race to claim my prize…
It’s 4:17 a.m. and I’ve over slept. Is it really worth it to go on? What if I get there and I’m disappointed; what if there’s nothing left for me…?
I pushed forward having prepared prior for my early departure. I grabbed my keys and hit the road. I arrived at the mall and there was the line—the “race” for the prize: a $10 off coupon at Sears. The line wrapped around the side of the building. There had to have been at least a few hundred there by the time I arrived by car and there was no way I would be one of the first 200 to receive my “reward card”.
It was time to enact plan “B”. I was going for the trophy! Yes, the JC Penny’s annual Mickey Mouse snow globe. I got it right at 5 a.m. Once I held that little piece of accomplishment in my hand I headed to The Sharper Image for the door-buster on a Robopet for my son.
With great pride, I noticed I was first in line with only 55 minutes to go until the doors would be open. It was here; while tired and anxious it all hit me: This was so much like my Christian walk!
During my 55 minute season of rest, I began to see a correlation between moving forward in my walk with God while feeling spiritually tired, and pushing myself to get up in the morning for the early-bird specials. Sometimes the blessings of God don’t seem motivating, but it’s important for me to become the kind of Christian who grows because I know it’s good for me and not just “sleep in” because I don’t feel like pressing on. Choosing not to “hit the road” might mean missing out on some of the blessings God has for me.
As I came out of the store with my son’s RoboPet, I decided to go home to take a much needed rest. I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I knew if I had stayed up as late as I did but had decided to sleep in instead, I would have regretted it. The rewards I received that early Friday morning weren’t just tangible items, they were morals gained from the experience as well.