For May 12th:

 “So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, ² and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.” Hebrews 12:1-2a (CEB)

I grew up on a farm in Mid-Ohio.  While growing up on a farm is a rewarding lifestyle with lots of land to roam, it is also a hard life because of the variables of crop and animal prices and the weather.  We had lots of lean years.  There were four of us children and we all had to take on a work load alongside our parents in order to survive.  We raised mostly corn, soy beans, hogs, and sheep which we sheered to sell the wool.

One of the tasks was to plow the ground into rows to plant the seed crops.  In the big fields we did this with tractors, in the gardens this was done with a hand plow.  It was very important to make straight rows!  Dad harped on this and often the plowing had to be redone if it did not meet his standards.  His classic words to us were “do not look at where you are, but look at where you are going.  Focus your eyes on your end destination.”

As an adult I think that is a good life lesson.  I always think of the Hebrews 12 scripture quoted above, fix your eyes on Jesus.  If we fix our eyes on Jesus we will get to our desired destination in the end.  If we stay focused on Jesus we will stay on the straight path of serving Him and not curve or wave our values or actions.  There are so many things in our life and culture that take our eyes away from where we should stay focused.  We waiver in our faith and go down side paths.  By praying, reading God’s word, and serving others, it is easier to keep sight of the destination.  A comforting thought is just as in the field if we lost sight and made a crooked row, we could have a redo; the same is true with God.  There is always another chance.

Becky Hall