Justify the Triple Crown Winning Racehorse – photo by Steve Heuertz, 2018

Meet Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown Winner of horse racing. The summer he won this elusive title, I totally nerded out reading articles and listened to podcasts about him. The thing about this horse beyond his huge muscular stature is his big heart and laid-back personality. Everyone says how he’s is a rare gem. The crowds never flustered him, the other horses never set him off, rain or sloppy tracks didn’t deter him — nope, Justify just walked out there calm, focused and ready. His jockey said he’s never had a horse stand so still in the starting gate. 

All Justify wanted to do is run. He loves running and he thrived even in high-pressure challenging conditions. He ran all three of the Triple Crown races in first place from start to finish, a rare feat. Frankly, I want to be like Justify — run my race, do my thing, and not be bothered by the competition or the onlookers or the crappy conditions of the road I’m on.

Not that you can really compare a horse to a man, but Justify’s demeanor and determination bear some similarities to New Testament writer Paul:

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14

The one piece of advice resonating with Justify’s example and Paul’s words is this: KEEP GOING. Two simple words that continue to guide me. Some days I find I have to repeat them to myself many times. But I have faith that Christ will see me through to the very end whenever and wherever that is.

Prior to the final race of the Triple Crown, I made a snarky little graphic for my phone lock screen (because I can be weird that way) — a reminder to keep on keepin’ on. It was a picture of Justify with the caption:

Losers quit when they’re tired — winners quit when they’ve won.

I’m in this to win…I’m gonna fight for that glorious crown…LET’S ROLL.