What's Your Ultimate?

 

What's your ultimate? This (above) is a picture of the start of the Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI). This is not the man and dogs sled race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. It's a foot, ski, or fat tire bike race that is conducted nearly during the same time of the the famous Iditarod man-dog 1,000 mile race. It's an ultra-marathon. I've run a few, and a couple in Alaska, but not in the winter. What's your ultimate? What is the ultimate for you? From a philosophical and phenomenological point of view, mankind can not help but to determine "meaning" and an "end state" to one's life. Aristotle is famous for underscoring the "telos," the end.  In military operations we need to know the "end state." So, think to yourself, whether you are 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 years old and beyond, "what is my end state?" Jean Paul Sartre, the French philosopher, would say that your meaning in life continues to change and develop until you die. And, I would say, whatever is your "ultimate," during those specific seasons of life, THAT may be your present g/God. Here's the challenge: whatever is your present ultimate is in competition to become your g/God. And, your ultimate will always CRUSH you. If you are an Olympic athlete, you are at your best on the very day that you compete in the Olympics. Unless you are Michael Phelps that can repeat over and over, you and him are the anomaly. But, probably not. Even Michael Phelps can not stay at the top of his game forever. The toll of being the best of the best brought him to the brink of suicide. His and your ultimate MUST change as time passes and age progresses, and therefore priorities morph. Again, the challenging question is, "Does your ultimate become your god?" The PURPOSE of religion is to assist you in making peace with your God. No other religion but Christianity does a g/God send himself, a Son, to be the offering that ultimately makes peace between you and God. Because...you will never be good enough for your ultimate. That's why there is grace. God's Richest At Christ's Expense (G.R.A.C.E.). What is your ultimate? May it be the God of grace, and that you order everything else after this. He never changes.