Some say the hardest part is getting started. If this is true though, why do we hear stories of people who give up on their diet, stop writing a novel or quit a challenging task. Maybe it’s not the start but the conclusion that’s more difficult. This is important to know when you are chasing after a dream or goal. Many of us expect smooth sailing once we start something. However, we find out quickly there are always bumps in the road. The important thing is to embrace these bumps, not run away from them. Remind yourself that if it were easy, everyone would do it. Then, when you reach the finish line, you will have much more appreciation for what you just accomplished. The goal should always be to finish, not start.
Over a decade ago, Coach Mark Richt at the University of Georgia, introduced a concept known as “Finish the Drill.” It was the motto of team practices, workouts, and games. Coach Richt understood that good teams become championship teams based on their ability to finish strong. That attitude stayed with one player who carried it into the NFL, where he made a play, still notable today years later, in the 2005 divisional championship game.
New England’s Tom Brady had a pass intercepted by Denver’s Champ Bailey, one of the fastest players in the game.
Champ caught it in the end zone and brought it back 101 yards, almost scoring a touchdown…almost. Ben Watson caught him; chased him down with everything he had from the other side of the field, knocking him out of bounds 1 yard short of a touchdown. Ben played for Coach Richt at Georgia and he, “Finished the Drill.”
The Immaculate Reception, arguably football’s greatest single play, is also about finishing. Franco Harris was in the right place at the right time, because he was doing what he was taught in college by his coach, you play hard till the whistle – you finish the play. On a pass thrown downfield you sprint in that direction to throw a block or tackle an interception.
I like to use the phrase, ‘finish strong’ when talking with young adults. I used it often in character lessons. Finishing strong in sports or school projects helps develop the traits to do the same later in life when it counts even more. Developing that trait could be the difference between success and failure. It will train us to keep pushing forward and rise to meet the challenges before us. We will know no other option other than to keep going to the end.
A consistent and heart-filled effort to completion is the foundation of excellent work. It creates a reputation of being dependable. A behavior that an employer looks for in an employee, a wife in her husband, and children in their father. Whatever you decide to do, set your mind to it and finish. We need to teach and mentor finishing strong to our children.
In football we use sprints at the end of practice not only for conditioning but to see who slows down before the finish line. It never fails, despite standing at the end line and yelling, “Cross this line at full speed” over and over again, several players will slow down. Nothing is simpler than sprinting on a straight line. Nothing is more important than crossing the end line at full speed. Slow down and you get passed by. Finishing strong isn’t easy, but it is a personal choice. Completing the drill or task/chore strong, can be the difference between winning and losing in sports, business, or life.
One of the hardest parts to concluding what you started is to manage the changing environment. There will be unforeseen circumstances, new priorities, and distractions. You can even be consumed with worry, fear, and fatigue; possibly even boredom and frustration. Maintaining focus on getting to the end lights the path before us and keeps our feet steady. The ability to finish enables us to avoid temptation and stops us from looking for the easy way out.
You cannot be crowned champion unless you compete the race. I was watching the 2018 Winter Olympics short 
track speed skating finals. There was a crash late in the race that took out 4 racers, leaving just 2 skaters who took the gold and silver medals. Only one of the 4 got back to his feet and finished the race, winning for himself an Olympic Bronze medal that he will have the rest of his life.
As we think of the endurance of the Saints, of enduring to the end and finishing well, there is no better example in Scripture than that of the Apostle Paul. As he sat chained in a Roman prison, anticipating an imminent execution, he wrote to Timothy: “For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8)
Paul was confident he had endured to the end and had finished strong. However, just a few sentences later he writes, “for Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). Paul and Demas had ministered together. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he calls Demas a co-worker. We don’t know what finally happened to Demas, he either abandoned the work of the ministry for worldly affairs or, perhaps, gave up the faith itself.
Demas was apparently a promising young man with a promising future; yet as far as we know he did not make it to the end. He did not finish strong. This is a sobering thought because many of us are committed followers of Jesus Christ with many years ahead of us. We expect to complete the race, to stand firm, to endure to the end. But there was a time when Demas also thought that way.
Just as Coaches instill finishing strong in their players, we have that same coaching present in our life. Paul, along with many others from scripture and the early years of the church, have provided us the example to follow. Let us develop the strength, through prayer and our relationship with God, to finish the race well.
