We got away with some friends a few weeks ago, and I had to capture this shot of a small creek behind the cabin.
Peaceful, isn’t it? Leaves just drifting along, minding their own business. Not worried about anything at all.
Leaves are great when broken down and added to the compost pile, but not so great when they drift en masse into local ponds and lakes. In those environs their fertilizing power turns into food for algae and the like, which in turn suffocates the fish.
There is so much going on in the world these days that it’s tempting to disengage from it all and just drift along, refusing to care anymore. “Whatever happens will happen . . . just don’t mess with my peace and tranquility!” We’ve had enough of the stressors of virus fears, economic disruptions, race discussions, election divisions, and other disturbances hampering our pursuit of enjoying life.
We’re just tired. We long for the good old days . . . of only seven or eight months ago! We wait for things to return to the normal we are familiar with so that we can get back to being and doing what we know. But time and circumstance don’t work that way.
Things surrounding us may have all gotten upended and unpredictable, but that needn’t knock us off our foundation, no matter how long the upheaval lasts! If we hold true to our identity as followers of Christ, we know this is not our home. We’re just passing through.
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.
Philippians 1:27a NLT
We pray for the nation where we live, but our primary citizenship is not of this earth.
And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7
We are ambassadors of Christ, here to shine His light to the world no matter what political, economic or health condition it happens to be in.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16
We can’t simply disengage and wait for the storm to pass. There is truth to hold onto and work to be done for the sake of eternity. I have been guilty–just look at how often I have written since March, and you’ll see that I’ve been sidelined for very long periods of time! But it’s time to get out of the bleachers and back onto the track.
We’ve got a race to run, my friends! But that race requires discipline and focus.
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
How about you? Have you stepped out of the race for what you thought was a moment, but that ended up being much longer?
Have you allowed circumstances in this temporary life to sideline your pursuit of God?
What do you think needs to change in order for you to get back on track?
What will be your first step today to get back into the race God has marked out for you?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1
Let’s aimlessly drift no longer, friends — it’s time to run with determination!
