The Last shall be ...

Fans, coaches, and officials outlined the recent 6-Flags Cross Country course.  During the final event of the morning, JV girls raced the two-lap circuit.  As I watched near the midpoint, race leaders lapped one particular contestant.  The rain-saturated course challenged even the best plodding the muddy trenches worn into the sod from earlier repetitive races.  While the majority of the competitors completed their second lap to the checkered finish, one girl running on short, slightly contorted legs veered along the left fork splashing onto the second half of the course … alone….

            Time elapsed … so much so that individual and team scores were posted.  I camped near the finish as a once exuberant, cheering crowd straggled away.  I searched two long stretches … no more athletes.  I began to walk to another stretch of the course to intersect the path of a grandparent. 

            “I thought there was one more girl yet to finish?”  I invited a conversation.

            “The little girl with cerebral palsy?”  His smile welcomed a fellow fan.  “She run with your school?”

            “No. I thought she might have been with your school.”  My tone begged to know his allegiance.  “I saw her earlier.  Figured she’d be close by now.”

            “No, I don’t know this girl.  My granddaughter runs for Liberty, north of Kansas City.  She’s a nice athlete and I enjoy cheering her forward, but she’ll never run for Liberty’s varsity.  They’re deep in strong runners.  I know when I was her age, I couldn’t have competed with the determination she has.”  He obviously took great pride traveling the length of the state to support his granddaughter.   

            “Liberty sure has large numbers, a very successful program,” I complimented.

            “Yes.  They’re good every year.”  He spoke of matter of fact.  “Same man been coaching them for thirty-two years.  Good man.  Lots of good kids.”

            I glanced back to where colorful streamers once marked the finish.  The host timing crew with Maryville University packed the finish tent away.  They secured the electronic scoring system, cords, and displays into cases and stowed them in vans.  They rolled and stored the checkered flags in overhead bins.  Only a remnant, a muddy soup pooled where the day’s athletes finished to record another competition to history.

            Various teams were loading on busses.  The timing crew and officials drove away.  Those remaining scattered like cattle in small herds across the plain. 

“I imagine her coach probably pulled her off the course.”  I referenced the girl with the crooked legs.  “Not only is it long, but the rain and previous races have reduced it to a sloppy obstacle ….”  

            “Oh, no!”  the Liberty fan interrupted.  “She’ll finish.”  Determination in my elder’s voice anticipated her appearance.  “She has a lot of heart.  She runs for a school somewhere in our area.  Not sure where, but I’ve seen her run before.” 

            We were not to be denied as a mud splattered, exhausted athlete emerged from towering bramble into the final clearing.  She negotiated mud trenches and pools for grassy shoulders.  A handful of athletes from a few different teams darted around her like bees inspiring one with stricken legs to press forward, to finish the race.  We, too, channeled words of encouragement walking beside her to a final over-arching curve. 

            … and as we turned, to face the final straight-away out of the curve, an enormous Liberty squad had reformed an alley, ... the finish, ... yelling, chanting, clapping.  Though not a teammate, they cheered the final athlete … home.

            If anyone had any reason to pack early and hit the road, it was Liberty.  If they were not the most distant team to travel to the event, they were close to it.  Remember the elder’s granddaughter?  She and so many, many more like her were winners that day and will be on many more occasions to come! 

Fortunately, I saw the girl running with short crippled legs win her own race, one I could not run or experience with her, but I witnessed her victory and celebrated with her. 

Individuals and organizations cutting corners, … greed, destruction of human life and relationships, … corruption, abusive power, legal deception … all taunt us to be on top.  And yet, events such as what I witnessed on an overcast Saturday are like a flower breaking through the crease of a sidewalk or a tree growing out of stone. 

            “The last shall be first and the first shall be last.”  Matthew 20:16

At this particular meet on this day, Liberty claimed the team championships in every event, boys and girls, varsity and junior varsity.  They may not collect metal for the mantle everywhere they compete, but I imagine many win in life everywhere they run!!!