In one of the best-known passages in the Bible, Paul writes to his protégé, Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Now, it is easy to think of Paul writing this to Timothy in a modern context: at the end of a successful career, passing the baton to the next guy as he prepares to retire, move down to Boca Raton, and spend his days at the beach and on the golf course.

But Paul most likely wrote those words about finishing the race from prison in Rome, just before he was executed around 67 A.D. at the hands of the cruel and psychotic emperor, Nero.  Along the way toward his demise, Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, bitten by a snake, and more.  To any worldly observer, he may have finished the race, but he finished it a total loser.

Yet Paul’s own words about finishing echo those of Christ himself, whose last words on the cross were “It is finished.” 

Finishing well is not the same as earthly success; it is completing the task God has set before you to the best of your ability, even when it appears to everyone else that you have failed miserably. 

And now, for the Friday Funnies:

At the pearly gates, St. Peter greeted a priest and congressman and gave them their room assignments.

“Father, here are the keys to one of our nicest, one-room efficiency apartments.”

“And for you, Mr. Congressman, here are the keys to our finest and grandest mansion.”

“This is unfair!” cried the priest.

“Listen,” St. Peter said, “priests are a dime a dozen up here, but this is the first congressman we’ve ever seen.”

Have a wonderful day.