MONDAY morning in London. Eyelids heavy and eyes burning from lack of sleep I leave my house, only to see the bus drive past heading speedily to the next stop, if I don’t make it I will be late for work. I run as carefully as possible, the crackling of my heels announcing my hurried arrival. I reach the stop just in time and step onto the bus, a woman shuffles and nudges me out of the way, we reach for our oyster cards, we are in a race, she leans heavily over me and hers beeps first. I am in defeated frustration as she marches away taking her seat with a satisfied smile on her face.

Yes, many of us are running to and fro, competing and eager to out run each other. Maybe it is for a seat on a crowded bus, perhaps it is sibling rivalry and you must be married before your sister. In other cases it is a race to a promotion or to pass a driving test; whatever the race is over, we often find ourselves in heated and unspoken competition.

Whilst some level of competitiveness is healthy, a concentration on an external measurement of success can lead to our downfall.

As we need to be purposeful this year, we will inevitably come up against problems, and in some cases you may not overcome them.

Disappointment will knock at your door, tuck its feet under your table and heartily eat your Eyun and Egusi soup, but no guest should out stay their welcome.

The significance in being purposeful is an understanding of what God would have you do in this world. Our days our numbered, it seems silly to race another person when the finishing line is further or closer for them, how could you establish a winner?

When we concern ourselves with our own path, we will avoid the frustration of feeling like we are falling behind others.

One who runs alone cannot be outrun, it is not about speed, the idea is to finish.