Earlier this week, our lead pastor, his cousin, our worship leader and I all went to an event called “Pins for Pastors”. It was a day of bowling and fellowship that was sponsored by a national broadcasting company.

But I have to be honest: I am a terrible bowler. When I bowl (which is not very often), my score is usually around a 90. During the Pins for Pastors event this week, I started out with a few good frames, but I quickly slid back into my usual results. Towards the end, I was knocking down only one pin at a time or throwing a complete gutter ball.

We bowled three full games and by the time the final frame came around, I just wanted it to be over. But I also wanted to give it my best effort, even though at the end, it wouldn’t really make a difference.

So I relaxed, addressed the lane, stepped forward, and swung the ball.

Strike.

And again.

Strike.

And again.

Strike.

I was in shock; I had never bowled three strikes in a row in my entire life.

I was very lucky in that last frame, but putting my luck aside, those three strikes helped me realize something: it did matter how I finished the game. We can always finish strong, no matter what has happened in the past. The end is so important because how we reach the finish line, in many ways, is the part that counts.

We can finish strong in a marriage that has not been everything it could have been.

We can finish strong in relationships that have been neglected.

We can finish strong in a job or a ministry that has not reached its full potential.

We can finish strong in faith even though we have been distant from God.

We can finish strong in a life that has not been fully lived.

We can finish strong.

Author’s note: This post is also available at Fridley Covenant Church.