Dog Sled Race

HELLO,
 
"KNOW YE NOT THAT THEY WHICH RUN IN A RACE RUN ALL, BUT ONE RECEIVETH THE PRIZE?  SO RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN."
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24
 
THE FAMOUS DOG SLED RACE BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND NOME IS 1130 MILES LONG.  THE SLED IS PULLED BY TWELVE HUSKIES THROUGH THE MOST GRUELING, INHUMAN CONDITIONS ONE CAN IMAGINE.  SUSAN BUTCHER HAS BEEN AN OFTEN WINNER IN THIS RACE.   AFTER READING ABOUT SUSAN AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER DOGS, THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE MOST VITAL FACTOR IN HER SUCCESS.  SHE HAD, NOT JUST 12 DOGS, BUT 150.  SHORTLY AFTER EACH PUP'S BIRTH, WHILE IT WAS STILL BLIND, SHE HELD IT IN HER HANDS AND BREATHED HER BREATH INTO ITS NOSE.  THAT WAY SHE CLAIMED, EACH ONE COULD ASSOCIATE HER SMELL WITH COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.  SHE PERSONALLY FED, TRAINED, MASSAGED, AND ON A ROTATION BASIS SLEPT WITH EACH DOG.  WHEN ONE WAS SICK OR INJURED, SHE PERSONALLY NURSED THEM TO HEALTH BY TALKING TO THEM, BELIEVING IN THEM, AND EVEN SINGING TO THEM.  THIS CREATED A STRONG BOND.  WITH HER DETERMINATION TO WIN, AND THE DOGS LOYALTY TO HER, SHE DID.
 
AS I READ THIS I COULD NOT HELP BUT SEE THE SPIRITUAL APPLICATION.   WE ARE IN A DESPERATE RACE OURSELVES AND HAVE NOT ARRIVED YET.  IF I HAVE ARRIVED, I WISH SOMEONE WOULD INFORM THE DEVIL.  WHEN WE ENTERED THIS RACE, THE LORD BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO US, HIS LIFE.  FROM THIS WE RECOGNIZE HIS NEARNESS, AND ARE COMFORTED AND ENCOURAGED.  SPIRITUALLY, HE PERSONALLY FEEDS AND TRAINS US, AND IS NEAR DAY AND NIGHT.  HE CARES FOR US WHEN WE ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK OR INJURED.  HE HAS CREATED A STRONG BOND WITH US.  HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE CAN WIN THIS RACE.
 
MAY GOD BLESS YOUR SATURDAY, AND REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE LOVED!!!
 
Henry