Your pain is a question, not a statement

​I stood at the finish line of the Richmond Marathon for 7 hours this past Saturday. I literally saw thousands of faces full of painful anticipation.

The pain of the miles behind painted on head to wobbly toe.

The anticipation of a moment mere yards away ready to declare to the pained - you did it.

A moment many had waited a lifetime to experience.

Too often we hear pain as a statement. A statement that says: "if you were stronger you wouldn't feel pain right now, but since you are feeling pain, you clearly aren't strong enough to finish."

But the reality is, pain is NOT a statement. Pain is a question.

What's it worth to you?

What's it worth to you and how much faith do you have that pain has showed up to add value to your celebration, not deny you of the celebration you are so worthy of.

Maybe you are not a runner, but you're a dreamer. I know that. You have a finish line out there calling your name. To get there, you are going to experience challenges and curve balls and moments that feel like they are standing in your way - not showing you the way.

You will experience pain.

It's up to you whether you hear that pain as a statement or a question.

It's up to you whether or not you hear 'what's it worth to you?"

And the answer to that, well that might just be painted all over your head to wobbly toes. All the way to the finish line. All the way to that moment when pain wraps you in a celebratory hug - and says - I knew we'd meet here.

I just knew it.