Driving out of my subdivision, I saw some runners from Anytime Fitness. Most people had completed the marked path but I saw one woman struggling to finish. I could tell she was tired as she moved with slumped shoulders, each step a fight to keep moving. Although she was running alone, others from the gym moved in her direction to cheer her on. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I imagine it went something like this: “You’ve got this!” “Keep going, you’re almost there!” “You can do it!” As I turned off my street, I lost sight of the action from the gym. Even though I didn’t witness it, I believe the last runner completed the course. She ran with a voice in her head saying, “You’ve got this!”
Too many times we face trials in life that make us want to quit. But God is saying, “You’ve got this!” Although the world would push us down, God has many ways to pull us up. “Don’t be afraid, because I’m with you; don’t be anxious, because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you; I’m truly helping you. I’m surely upholding you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 ISV) God knows what to do with the things that come against us. “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power. Your right hand, O Lord, smashes the enemy.” (Exodus 15:6 NLT) When we have a destination in mind and every obstacle known to man is blocking us, we know where to turn. Let’s point our running shoes towards a place of protection. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 ESV) In this perfect sanctuary we catch our breath, square our shoulders, and keep moving towards our goals. And if we listen very carefully, we’ll hear him say, “You’ve got this!”
Although waterfalls face constant opposition, they just keep going. My friends and I saw dozens of them on our trip to Maui, each unique and breathtaking in their own right. One thing the waterfalls had in common: they all had to push through obstacles to reach the zenith of their destiny. One waterfall was hidden deep in the woods where tree branches and rocks in the river fought to slow the cascade. Another time, we hiked 2 miles through a bamboo forest to see the determined descent of a mountain’s waterfall. Others climbed over boulders, fought past rocky ledges, and crashed around manmade obstructions. Nonetheless, they all kept going, displaying their beauty and their strength.
My family planned a week-long outing at one of our favorite campgrounds. Upon arrival, I discovered the road leading into the campground was under six feet of water. There is a road that leads out of the campground, but when I checked, it was flooded too. What to do now? Four campers were on the way and we needed to find higher ground. As it turned out, there was an access road at the back of the campground. Fortunately, it was at a higher elevation. When the campers arrived, I was uneasy about staying. Despite my reservations, my brother informed me all the water would be gone in a day and the sun would even dry the water near our campers. To my delight, he was right. It turns out that camping on higher ground has its benefits.
My youngest brother, Bob, is a charter boat captain on Lake Erie. Most days you’ll find him on the lake with groups of eager fishermen ready for a day of fun. They’re fishing for walleye and yellow perch. However, the white perch, invasive to Lake Erie, gets caught too. This was the case when Bob took my family fishing. I was amazed at the dozens of times a white perch was on someone’s line. My brother, who’s an expert in his field, knew exactly what to do. He’d unhook the offensive fish and immediately drop it back in the water; the large walleye was dropped into the ice cooler. Bob knew to hold onto the good and let go of the bad.
My family is camping near Lake Erie and we’re hoping for a bright and sunny day today. After raining all day yesterday, it looked like today would follow suit. The skies were overcast in the morning. There was a light drizzle and absolutely no sun to see in the early morning hours. We were wondering what we would do inside all day trying to entertain family from 3 years old to age 76. But midmorning changed our thinking completely. The sun began to burn away the clouds and by afternoon we had a full sky of sunshine and plenty of fun activities on tap. It’s amazing how one moment in time can change everything.
One day I saw a vent cover from the roof lying in my yard. Thinking it would be a two minute fix, I decided to put it back on myself. This involved lugging a 6′ ladder out back, climbing it, and carefully crawling Spiderman-style on the first level of my roof. The second level was trickier. To get on that level, I had to take a running start like a gymnast flying towards the pommel horse. (Some advice:Stay away from visualizing this one.) The third level was a steep incline where I literally slid down to get to my destination. Ironically, when I reached the vent I realized IT DIDN’T NEED A COVER! After all that climbing, I discovered that some vents were covered but others were not. Looking around, I could tell that this one belonged to my neighbor. Things got clearer when I went a little higher.
My daisies suddenly burst open. Truthfully, the buds had been taking shape for days. Most of the year the daisies are just nice green plants, but for a month every year, they are stunning. The day I planted the small flowers I hoped for the best. Placing them gently in the ground, I gave them food and water. On a consistent schedule, I fed them, (not bacon an eggs, but you know, plant food). Although there were time I wondered if they’d make it, today they’re very strong. Through the years the flowers have multiplied. And then suddenly, they are glorious to behold.
There are times in life when it’s best to take the advice of a popular Disney song and ‘Let It Go.’ My family had a large garage sale this weekend and we followed that mantra. We decided to stop holding on to things that we no longer needed. Six different families contributed to the sale at my mom’s and tables were filled with kitchen items, house décor, and small appliances. Outdoor and indoor furniture pieces were strategically placed in the driveway while adult clothes were draped in the garage. One entire area of the driveway was filled with everything baby: stroller, clothes, stuffed animals, and numerous musical toys. Although the sale was a plethora of different items, they all had one thing in common: it was time for them to go.
The flowers I planted today were nice, but they hold no comparison to their future glory. Right now they’re a bit sparse, a little droopy, and a bit on the small side. Don’t get me wrong, the yellow flowers (coreopsis, yarrow, and petunias) on my front porch have already added a ‘touch of color.’ The red geraniums are taking a stand under the pergola of the back porch. However, I am expecting more color as summer approaches. My flowers need the basics: sun, water, and perhaps a sprinkling of Miracle-Gro. But their greatest need: just a little more time.