"Run it Again"

A few months ago I wrote about a funeral service I conducted and there were 3 people in attendance. The person was humorous but at the same time used their humor to criticize and demean others. They died almost completely alone; the family asked me to conduct the service even though the person had not attended our church in over 15 years. I was glad to serve the family and the Lord by doing what they asked. I believe the person is in heaven although I am not in charge of who gets in or doesn't. Today I will conduct another funeral. The service will literally be held in a football stadium because there is no church large enough to hold the crowd that will come to show their love, respect and admiration for the one who died. This person gave their life teaching, coaching, motivating, correcting and staying active until the day of their death. This person was not a saint. They will get in heaven the same everyone else will by the grace of God. But their influence will last for generations. They retired years ago and could have spent the last decade sitting out the last days of their life doing whatever they wanted. They chose to keep doing what they had always done teaching, coaching, motivating and correcting those they came in contact with. They did not allow people to settle for mediocrity. In practice if you did not do your assignment he shouted "run it again" and your ran it as many times as it took to get it right. That meant every person doing their job and staying with it until the whistle blew. If your family needs to improve, "run it again". Get the help you need from a professional if necessary to improve. If your health needs to improve, "run it again" until you get well. If you are fighting an addiction, "run it again" until it is broken and you are free. If your faith is weak, "run it again" until your can say with a pure heart "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This life we live is a marathon. Don't allow today's success or failure to deceive you. Things change and sometimes change very quickly. Keep doing everything you can everyday, hopefully you will leave a legacy like the person I am conducting the service for today. Run it again, until you hear the whistle blow and enter into the joy of the Lord!