Focused

Life is not fair! Or is it? A few years ago, my AP Spanish class was debating this statement and several of the students said that they believe life is fair. I was somewhat surprised by their statement and asked them to explain. They shared that life is unfair to everyone and that is what makes it fair. I had never considered that perspective, but as they elaborated – it does not matter where a person lives, who their parents are or where they go to school – I realized that they were on to something. At some point, we have all faced a time when we felt life was not fair. As my students seemed to have figured out, we can’t always control what happens in life; however, we can definitely control how we react to it.

The reality is, throughout life we are either in training or facing some time of trial or storm. Both seasons require a determined focus. I love King Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Whether we are on a mountaintop and things are going incredibly well or we are in a valley when everything seems to be going wrong, we must stay focused. We must keep our eye on eternity. 

We can learn many lessons from athletes. They train hard every single day to prepare for their races. Even when they do not feel like it, they do it anyway. As they prepare for a race or a competition, they make sure they are eating correctly, drinking plenty of water and practicing so that when the race comes, their bodies will be ready. Just as athletes focus on their training so that they can win their races, as Christians, we need to be focused on the race we are running. Unlike the athlete, we do not know when the trials are going to hit or the storms are going to rage. That makes it even more important that we prepare diligently every single day so that our hearts are ready when satan wages war. 

While athletes are training for trophies and medals and bragging rights, we are training for the ultimate finish line – running through the pearly gates. Like many athletes who give it all and literally collapse across the finish line, I want to collapse into Heaven completely exhausted and used up. I do not want there to be an ounce of anything left in me. I want to fall at the feet of my Father and say, “I used it all. Every bit of energy, strength, every ounce of talent that you gave me. I used it up in the race to get here.” 

It is easy to say that we need to be prepared, but what are some specific training strategies?

1. Keep your heart soaked in God’s truths: Just like many businesses and schools have a mission and vision statement to focus on, I need God’s word. Pick a scripture and make that your focus for the next few days or week. Make it your verse to live by. If you are looking for one to start with, how about Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 
2. Keep a list of victories, no matter how small they may seem to you! It can include small things that you have overcome or ways that you see God working. When things are hard, read through those victories. Just keeping a list makes me more intentional about seeking the good everyday.
3. Commit to attending worship. We need community. I get it. Sometimes we don’t feel like going. It takes a huge amount of energy to get little ones ready for church and then to wrestle them during communion and worship. We get behind at work and need to catch up. Remember the athlete. She trains even when she does not feel like it. This training is even more important. Not only do you need other Christians. They need you. Have you ever sat next to a fire and watched the logs burn? What happens if you take an ember out of that fire and set it to the side? It loses its flame. It can’t burn on its own. We can’t do it alone. 

Every decision we make either draws us closer to God or slowly slips us away from Him. When we mess up, when we skip a training day or completely fail a trial – it happens to all athletes – don’t quit. Pick up where you left off and keep going. It doesn’t matter if today’s achievements are baby steps – barely noticeable by anyone but you and God or giant steps that the world sees. Forward progress is forward progress and puts you one step closer to your goal. Then, get up the next day and do it again. Until the day you hear those sweet words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”