Who wouldn’t love to excel, to experience and achieve more than most people ever do? It sounds exciting – and fun. Excelling requires making a commitment to a goal and being ready to accept the responsibilities and restrictions necessary to get there. The Kohanim, or Jewish priests, were the “elite force” in the Holy Temple, who got to do and see amazing things that nobody else could. Yet with their privileges came the responsibility of maintaining a higher level of discipline than the rest of the Jewish people, regarding what they could eat, wear and do. They understood, and we can too, that the greater a person wants to become, the more disciplined he must be to get there.

In our story, a boy shows his friends what it takes to excel.

Keeping Track

Stride… huff… stride… Hal Landers breathed hard but steadily when his feet rhythmically hit the pavement as he dug his way up the steep hill. Hal was the captain of the Middletown Day School track team and he was training for the upcoming inter-state meet, where he would be representing his school in the grueling 5000 meter cross-country race.

Though his muscles ached, the boy pushed himself on. He knew from experience that these pains meant his legs were growing stronger and would bring him to a new level of running excellence.

Just as he reached the top of the hill and turned the corner, Hal was surprised by the honking of a car horn. Looking up, he saw his friends Barry and Pete parked by the side of the road. “Hey Hal,” Barry yelled out, “Where ya running to? Come rest a while and join us for an ice cream. My treat!”

Although Hal was happy to see his friends, he knew that eating ice cream was the last thing he could be doing now. His strict diet and disciplined training schedule was rigorous, but it gave Hal just the fuel he needed to become one of the premier runners in the state.

“Sorry guys” he said with a smile. “Ice cream isn’t on my diet this week.”

Hal’s buddies looked at their slim-trim friend and then at each other. “You don’t look like you belong on a diet to me,” said Pete, “but have it your way. C’mon out with us anyway and shoot the breeze for a while.”

Hal looked at his watch and frowned. He knew that getting to sleep early was a crucial part of his training regimen. “Sounds great but it’s almost my curfew. I’ve gotta get home.”

Barry’s eyes popped open. “Such an early curfew? Boy, are your parents tough!”

“You don’t get it!” Hal laughed. “I put myself on the curfew and on the diet so I’ll have what it takes to win the big race on Tuesday.”

His friends had to admit that Hal’s efforts had paid off. He was the best runner to come out of Middletown in years. But still, they had to ask, “Is it really worth it, Hal? All the effort and discipline?”

Hal didn’t miss a beat. “No question about it. The feeling I get when I’m running fast, when I win a race is unbelievable. It’s not always easy, but like the coach says, “No pain, no gain.” If I want to really be good, I can’t just take it easy like everyone else. No offense guys, I’d love to hang out with you longer, but I’ve gotta run!”