"Keep Your Eyes on the Prize"

"Life is a constant struggle
of reigning ourselves back
in to refocus on what
really matters."

Do you remember being a kid and trying to walk on the parking lot curbs without falling? Interesting how as soon as we'd lose focus, we'd lose our balance and fall. Thank goodness the ground was only four inches away! Imagine taking it to the next level - tight rope walking. I can't even imagine the amount of focus, determination, and coordination required to do that without plunging to the ground!

Life is a lot like this and the world is so full of distractions that it is almost impossible to stay focused on the end game. We often don't even realize we are off track until it's too late. Imagine trying to walk a straight line and looking only at each step as you take it, fully focused on where you are in that moment with no clear sight of where you are trying to get to. The odds are that you will veer off incrementally with each step until you end up so far away from the target that you don't even know how you got there, yet alone how to get back.

We've all been there. Life is a constant struggle of reigning ourselves back in to refocus on what really matters.

"I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken". (Psalm 16:8)

Even as I write this now, I must acknowledge that I am guilty of the same. In fact, this has been half written for over a month. Life has thrown me one challenge after another; and I must admit, sometimes I'd rather focus on work, or anything else for that matter, than deal with what's right in front of me. Let's face it - life can be brutally hard and when we are faced with tough, painful, or scary seasons ahead, we tend to want to hang out right where we are for a little while longer. We think we have plenty of time to get to the hard stuff later - but unfortunately, that's usually not the case. So, we are often faced with this choice: Either we choose faith as we move forward and walk upon the shaky, unpredictable ground that lies ahead with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, knowing that He alone is sovereign; or, we stand paralyzed in fear and doubt while we get plowed over because we can't stop time - and the thought that we can is simply a false sense of control that we just do not have.

²² Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. ²³ And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. ²⁴ But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.²⁵ Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” ²⁸ And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹ So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-36)

I think about this piece of scripture every time I get scared to move forward. I think about it every time I feel myself starting to panic and lose my focus as a desperately try to grasp on to any sense of control I mistakenly think I have. It is in these moments that I fall, which only perpetuate the panic, the worry, the fear, the doubt, and the guilt and shame that inevitably follow shortly after trying to be God.

As I reflect on this space of letting go of control and keeping my eyes focused on Him, I am reminded of when I used to train in martial arts. I often think about some of the important lessons I learned during that time about focus. While sparring, I was taught never to close my eyes and to always keep them fixed on my opponent's eyes. I was told everything else was a distraction. "But wait... That makes no sense!", I thought to myself as I promptly got knocked down onto the mat. This concept seemed ridiculous. It felt like it couldn't possibly work. After all, there was a lot going on around me that needed my attention.

What about the strikes? I felt like I needed to watch everything - all the time. I had to watch for the jab that would eventually wear me down if I didn't block it. I had to pay attention to that left hook. I had to be prepared for the take down. I had to watch for the #2 shot that would turn my lights out if it connected. The harder I tried to watch for all these things, the more often I was hit. Ugh! It was so frustrating! Again, my coach told me to stay calm, be confident, and watch my opponent's eyes - nothing else...just the eyes...and don't forget to breathe, he said. And so I did. And sure enough, I was able to telegraph and counter every attack without panicking or being afraid...I didn't even have to think about it. It just happened. I was able to stand confident in that space even though I had so much coming at me trying to knock me out.

When we focus on "one" thing - Jesus - we can let go of the rest. In this space, we can walk with confidence, with clear direction, and with strength.

If I keep my eyes on God, I won’t trip over my own feet. (Psalms 25:15)

Of course, it's a lot easier said than done. Truth is, distractions are tough and they sneak up on us - work, bills, deadlines, sports, vacations, friends, pets, school, and the list goes on. All these things threaten to dilute the strength and awareness of our convictions. Even worse than the distractions themselves is when we get tired. It is hard to focus on anything when we are worn down by the world; when we are injured or in pain; when we are discouraged; when we are confused; when we feel lost; when we are scared or our security is threatened. See, the world teaches us that these types of desperate moments call for desperate measures. The world teaches us to react quickly. This is evident in Peter's response to the wind that suddenly posed a perceived threat causing him to react quickly out of fear, and what was the result? Well, he began to sink. Whereas, if he had remained calm and confident in what's true, his faith would have carried his feet upon the water.

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God". (Hebrews 12:2)

But, the world teaches us survival of the fittest and that we must fend for ourselves because no one else will. The world teaches us to cover our wounds with Band-Aids, because maybe if we don't look at them, they will just go away. The world teaches us to hide from that which makes us uncomfortable or simply pretend it's not there. The world teaches us to fill ourselves up with fleeting moments of pleasure that give us a false, temporary sensation of happiness, therefore making it easier to avoid reality.

It's important to recognize these patterns of the human condition because we all fall into them from time to time. Or, maybe some of us have even built a permanent residence in this place and don't know how to break free from it. Fortunately, there is hope in that we are never forsaken and it's never too late to begin letting go of all the things that don't matter and grabbing on to the one thing that does. Because the reality is in the true scope of the eternal life that is to come, this part is merely a blink of the eye and it will vanish like a puff of smoke. And, all the temporary things that we have invested our lives in will be forgotten forever. But...the eternal things we invest in...those will remain.

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes". (James 4:14)