Run Jet, Run!
by Oliver Carlos
The 1983 Southeast Asian Games got me into sports. Everyday, the media would provide updates on the Philippines’ performance. I would read Bulletin Today and Daily Express, and watch on RPN-9 about a young wonder sprinter named Lydia de Vega, who was nicknamed, “Asia’s Sprint Queen.” She would win medals for our country, one of which was in the most prestigious track-and-field event, the 100-meter dash.
A year later, I spent a lot of sleepovers at my cousins’ house in UPCO. I had a cousin, Ernie Aragon, Jr., and he’s one year older than me. He was a high school freshman at UP Rural High School, while I was a Grade 6 student at Maquiling School, Inc (MSI). This was in 1984. He would tell me a lot about high school life and those stories really got me excited to be in high school. He would talk about the acquaintance party, the school elections, and the teachers he found to be cool. But the event that really got me excited was the highs school intramurals. He said that there’s a track and field competition. After hearing that, I already set my sights in joining the marathon event.
I wasn’t a basketball enthusiast yet at that time. The only sport I knew was track and field, and that’s because of the SEA Games I used to follow the year before. I knew I’m not the fastest in our batch, so I didn’t aim to be the representative in the 100-meter dash. I had a classmate named Romeo Visperas Jr., whom we nicknamed “Miyoki.” He’s the fastest guy in school. He would always win in Mataya-taya and Moro-Moro since 4th Grade. So I told myself that I would focus on being the best endurance runner in our batch.
Cousin Ernie described to me the route of the marathon. Actually, it’s not a real 42-kilometer marathon, it’s just a 5-kilometer run. But because the contestants were kids, the high school teachers just labeled it “marathon.” The race would start in front of Baker Hall, go up to Forestry, and then back to the lower campus to the finish line in front of the Auditorium.
I would run that route every day, memorize its ups and downs, and its every curve. I did that so I would get a feel of the real conditions of the race. I would time myself every time and try to improve each day. I clocked an average of 30 minutes for the 5K run.
Looking back at hindsight, I find it funny that a 12-year old Grade 6 kid was already training his heart out for a competition that would happen one year later. I was so determined to be in that race and perform my best, even though I was not yet a student of that high school. I have assessed the life path ahead, and I was more than willing to go into it.
Just like Ernie, Jesus also oriented his audience on what to expect if they decide to be his followers. He said that Christian life is not easy, and they should know that before they enter into it. He wanted them to assess the cost of being his disciples, he told them what to expect. If they find it too costly, they have a chance to back out. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 (NLT):
“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”’
Being a Christian means repenting from your sins, giving up your own way, and accepting the new life and new identity that Christ is giving you. Jesus wanted your wholehearted commitment, not a half-hearted one. That’s why he’s telling you early on if you are willing to run this marathon route with him as your running companion. Will you?
