Today is a day of thankfulness for the people in my life and my relationship with them. Just a few minutes ago the Lord reminded me of the "Banana Story". You may have heard it before but I'm gonna tell it anyway because it's such a good story. As far as I know this is a true story.
The Banana Story
A pastor had it in his mind that he wanted to run the Boston Marathon so two weeks before the race he began to train. He trained the best he could and on the day of the race he ate a hearty breakfast since he would need to keep up his energy for this long race. "On your mark... Get set... GO!" Off he went down the course of the race. Everything seemed to go according to plan but about 1/4th of the way into the race he felt his breakfast begin to stir within his intestines. He knew he would not be able to complete the race with out taking care of this very inconvenient necessity of life. Around the half way mark he remembered that one of his congregants lived not to far off the race course, so there he went... trying to stay calm so as to not initiate any launch sequences. He could see the house not too far off and prayed that his church member would be at home. He saw the car in the driveway and the screen door was open. He felt his sweat begin to bead up around his forehead and down his back... not from the race but because his body new relief was on its way and the count down had begun. The pastor, in a panic, knocked on the door, explained his dilemma, and then sprinted for the bathroom. After several long minutes, and feeling very relieved, he noticed that he couldn't feel his legs. He tried to stand up but his legs felt like mush and his muscles began to cramp. Needless to say he was not able to finish the race.
After a few weeks a young lady walked up to him at church and asked about the race. He told her that he was unable to finish the race and was very disappointed. She asked various questions dealing with his training and diet then asked if he would like her to train him. She had run the race several times and was not going to participate the next year but would like to help him if he would allow her; he jumped at the opportunity. Many months before the race she contacted him to begin the training... he was surprised because he thought it would only take a few weeks. He followed everything she said for him to do including his diet. She told him that a runner needs to have the proper diet or he will not be able to finish the race because his intestines would end up taking over.
The day of the race came and the pastor ate accordingly, just as he had been instructed. "On your mark (he was nervous thinking of the previous year)... Get set (what if it happened all over again)... GO! And off he went down he went the course of the race. He was able to shake off his nerves as ran the course and became more confident when he breezed by the area of defeat the year before. But about 3/4th of the way into the race he felt his muscles tire and his body weaken. This concerned him so much that he wasn't paying attention to his form or his pace and so the feeling of giving up began to consume him. A crowd of people had already gathered to cheer on all the runners and as he looked at the screaming crowd he saw his friend's smiling face (the trainer) and heard her cheering for him. As he got closer to where she was standing he saw her holding out a banana and yelling , "Eat the banana so you can finish the race!!" He ate the banana and was amazed that his energy level perked right back up. He fixed his form and focused his thoughts on finishing the race. A few miles before the finish line he began to weaken again and wished he had another banana so he scanned the crowd of cheering people, that had multiplied tremendously, for his friend but... no banana. Instead what he saw up ahead was his friend in her racing attire. As he met her on the road she said, "I will run the remainder of the race with you so that you will not lose heart." And together they crossed the finished line.
Who is the banana in your life; the person who will help you fight the good fight so that you can finish "The Race"? I have a "bunch" of bananas in mine... my husband, family, pastor, and friends. At one time or another they have been a banana. Today, my B-F-F (and daughter-in-law) was my banana. This blog is something the Lord has asked me to do but today I felt I had nothing. She handed me a banana, walked with me awhile, and voila... here's today's posting. Thank you God for all the bananas in my life. I pray that I too may be a banana in someones life!
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