This Race Called Life

                                              This Race Called Life

Once upon a time, there was a young athletic boy hungry for success for whom winning was everything and success was measured just by winning. 

One day the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in his small village, himself and two other boys to compete. A large crowd had gathered to witness the sporting spectacle and a wise old man, upon hearing of the little boy, had travelled far to bear witness also.

Race commenced, looking like a living heat at the finishing line, but sure enough the boy dug deep and called on his determination, strength and power. He took the winning line and was first.

The crowd was ecstatic and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm, expressing no sentiment. 

The little boy, however,  felt proud and important. A second race was called, and two new young, fit challengers came forward, to run with the boy. The race was started and sure enough the little boy came through and finished first again. The crowd was ecstatic again. The man remained still and calm again but the boy felt proud. 

"Another race! Another race!" pleaded the boy. 

The wise old man stepped forward and presented the little boy with two new challengers, an elderly frail lady and an blind man. 

"What is this?", quizzed the little boy. "This is no race" he exclaimed. "Race!" said the old man. 

The race was started and the boy was only finisher , the other two challengers left standing at the starting line. 

The little boy was ecstatic, he raised his arms in delight. The crowd however were silent, showing no sentiment towards the boy. 

"What happened? Why not do the people join in the success?" he asked the old man.

'Race again.... but this finish together, all three of you, finish together" said the old man. The little boy thought for a while , stood in the middle of the old lady and the blind man, and then took the two by their arms. 

The race began and the little boy walked slowly, ever so slowly, to the finish line and crossed it. The crowd was ecstatic and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man smiled gently, nodding his head. The little boy felt proud. 

" Old man, I understand not, who are the crowd cheering for, which one of us three." , asked the little boy. 

The wise old man looked into the boy's eyes, placing his hand on boy's shoulder and replied softly" Little boy, for this race you have won much more than any race you have won before and for this race the crowd cheer not for any winner!" 

You see in life... your life what are you running for? 

are you hungry for success? is winning the only measurement for you in your life? 

the question is :

who was running next to you, in this race? if they are weaker and old did you help them to get across the life? did you finish together because that is the best race you can ever run...