Small pictures matter

If we are to move forward with Christ, we must realize if we are actually moving, standing still, or falling behind. Until we realize where we are at, there is not much effort we will put into any forward movement. If we are lucky enough to find ourselves moving forward, it could be that Christ wants to put a little more 'pep in our step', so to speak, in getting us to move at a different pace. The sad truth is that many are 'standing still' - allowing movement all around them, but not even realizing how much damage is being done when 'standing still' is our present condition. A flood may come, but the things that survive the flood are the things that can move away from it!

Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. (Philippians 3:13-14)

In order to move forward, one might need to become discontent with the past. If we are too well attached to the past and the way it makes us feel, we will likely never desire to move forward. Even being too focused on the 'good things' that are happening in our present might not be exactly the right focus for us to have. Perhaps Christ wants us to look at the past with less fondness, be just a little discontent with our present, and yearn for what is just ahead for each of us. Perhaps we hear clearly that it is time to move forward, but have no idea how to accomplish this, or the issues surrounding moving forward make it a huge challenge. When God initiates the movement, we can count on his presence and power to be with us as we take steps forward.

One of the first things we might need to do is realize things can be different in our lives. If we have been so totally attached to our past, it may seem impossible to ever move beyond it. It is though we can see nothing but that part of our lives - it anchors us in stagnation. We might not change the entire world by our forward movement, but we might see OUR world changed. That may not seem significant in the big picture, but every 'big picture' is actually made up of small pictures - take small steps, make incremental changes, and see a 'big God' reveal how your 'small picture' changed the 'big picture' around you. When we move forward, we aren't abandoning the lessons of the past - we are embracing them, having learned something of deep value from them as we lean into the lessons of the present and the preparation for the future ones we are about to learn. Just sayin!

Aimlessly running?

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Most of us like the 'finishing' better than the 'starting' part. Why? It means we have reached an end and if the starting was hard, the finishing could be a reward of sorts. We view the finish line as somewhat of a relief, while the starting line can be filled with all manner of anxious thought, fears about what isn't known, and hard steps. We might not be ready for the 'starting line' today, but when we 'begin' something with God, we are sure to appreciate the reward at the 'finish line'.

The parts in between the start and the finish are what require us to have patience. Maybe that is why it makes the start so hard for us at times. We don't want the 'middle part' of the journey as much as we want the 'finishing part'. The stuff that happens in the middle part of the journey is what makes the journey worthwhile, though. It isn't just the finish line - because all the stuff we learn along the way is found in the middle part - the finish line just marks the 'reward' of the journey.

Some have said reaching the finish line is good, but it is what we do AFTER we finish that matters more than anything. I would like to challenge that a bit because it is what we do IN the race that matters. The steps we take 'within' the race determine our finish - either with grace and well-being or with unfulfilled dreams and purposes. Steps taken in obedience 'within' the race will not be easy, nor will they be overwhelmingly clear at times. Yet, those steps of obedience will help us finish well.

We aren't always cut out for the race ahead of us, but when we step up to the starting line, we had better be ready for the entirety of the race. A runner prepares for the race. What we do today in terms of our quiet time with Jesus, time in his Word, and moments of contemplating his purposes for our lives can be viewed as our 'preparation time' for the race he calls us to run. Without this all-important preparation, we run without purpose, and aimless running is not a race! Just sayin!