Running

By Jonathan Meyer

A runner temp’ral health and strength pursues.
A Christian runs eternal life to gain.
But both of them their earthly comfort lose,
And in its stead get tiredness and pain.
Their pace is often mercilessly slow.
Terrain and weather dauntingly array
To coax the tired runners not to go,
But wait, perhaps, until another day.
But Christian and the runner onward press;
Their future joys make current troubles light.
For neither one will reach his home unless
He keeps the pace, and runs with all his might.
So each strives onward, running to his goal,
And conqu’ring, one for body, one for soul.