A Mere Mortal

“You have never talked to a mere mortal.”  -C.S. Lewis

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 It’s the walker running down the street on his morning jog

It’s the construction worker paving the streets you drive on

It’s the person behind the counter serving us our burger and fries

It’s the homeless man holding up his cardboard sign on the corner

It’s the person that cuts us off on the highway

It’s the businessman who nudges us aside on the way to his office

It’s the child who screams at the playground

It’s the person who made the clothes that you are wearing

It’s the criminal on the news

It’s your favorite actor in your favorite movie

It’s your mom

Your dad

Sister

Brother

Relatives

Everyone.

Each one a separate path

Leading to an afterlife,

Each one a different story

Giving reasons to their actions,

Each one a different soul

Living for eternity.

It’s easy to forget they are running the race too

It’s easy to forget that the world’s not about you

It’s easy to forget that it’s not about first or last

But an eternal place where each soul will rest.

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Yes, you are immortal

Yes, you are held responsible

Yes, you will be judged

But upon what platform do you stand?

Do you stand upon your deeds, awarding yourself goodness in spite of flaws?

Or upon freedom, crowning you first above all?

Do you stand upon your feelings, a pile of sinking sand?

Or do you stand upon grace, the rock that never falters?

Whatever you choose is where you place your life

But look behind you and see what all you have left behind

In your haste to finish, you missed the entire point

While caring only for yourself,

You missed:

The man who stumbled

The woman who fell

The boy who got lost

The girl who was killed.

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Stop

Look forward

Look left

Look right

Look behind

Think…

One word can pick someone up

One smile can give energy to weakened legs

One good deed can change an outlook

One moment can change an eternity.

Love God above all

But don’t forget:

The second part does is not to finish the race alone

But to love your neighbor as yourself.

This is the race set before you.

Run it well.