Press toward HIM

Phi 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I get several different pictures when I read these verses.
One, the obvious one, is that of an athlete running a race; Every muscle, tendon and nerve is straining toward the goal, the finish line. The brain is fully engaged in the one purpose. My problem with this is that a runner has a finite amount of drive and energy. He will run out of steam. He will eventually have to quit. He will eventually fall to the ground in exhaustion. That kind of, intense, driven absorption cannot last for a lifetime. I know that I can’t live my life with that kind of intensity. I can do that only in short spurts.

Another picture is that of being in the yoke with Christ. He and I are running along together and he gives me the focus, energy and endurance that I need. He shows me what I need to do to keep going, to endure. He is always, always by my side encouraging me, believing in me. But even with that it is I who am doing the running, straining, focusing, and enduring. He just encourages me to keep going.

My other picture has to do with the word “apprehend” and “press”. It is totally not what is meant in the scripture but I think it can fit, at least for me. I picture myself. V.12 uses the word “apprehend” to hold on to. The verse gives the impression that I am holding on to him and He is holding onto me. That creates a picture of my arms wrapped tightly around His neck, legs wrapped around his chest in a full body press. His arms are wrapped tightly around all of me. We press on. Me pressed tight up against him, his arms tightly holding me. We press on. He walks on and on, holding onto me. I press up against as He walks on. Sometimes I walk and hold onto his hand, when I am tired he carries me, but we/he keeps walking; pressing on. On and on we go. Always moving, always forward. He never gets tired or weary. He has infinite strength, infinite endurance. That is the only way that I can press on to the goal. I simply don’t have the strength or endurance to keep going myself. But I can, if He carries me, when needed.

O Father,
That is the only way that I can reconcile these verses. Otherwise, I know that I just can’t do it.