FINISHING WELL...

I’ve spent the better part of the past 3 days observing finishes. Yes, starts are crucial and the distance travelled must be undertaken properly. But, all that is worthless without a good finish.

For the first 2 days, I stood, stopwatch in hand, gazing over the edge of the pool observing young swimmers completing their race. “Swim to the wall!” “Don’t stop early.” A good solid finish can often determine the outcome of the race as Mr. Phelps proved last summer in Beijing. The difference between finishing well and failing to do so may only be fractions of seconds – but, it is often the difference between winning and losing, making the team or ending the competition early.

The following day, I sat silently watching across a sterile hospital room observing an aged competitor nearing the end of her race. She pursued the goal, she completed her pursuit, she kept the faith, and she finished well! In one final breath, she touched the wall as time expired – Victory at last!

Unlike the swimmer who counts the strokes in the lap and the breaths needed to reach the goal, we do not know the length of our race. You’d think that would make “finishing well” an impossible strategy. But – if every step, every stroke, every lap is made with the finish line in perspective; we assure ourselves that the prize we reach for is worth every effort extended.

What a Weekend!

I never expected that defeat and death would bring such a measure of satisfaction. The past 3 days provided a most fascinating journey to experience. Not every competitor won their race, but each one… “finished well”.