Keep Going!

Last week one of the readings in Seeking God’s Face included these verses from the book of Hebrews: 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, 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 God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3) 

I know I’ve written about these verses a few months ago, talking about visiting the hippodrome when Jay and I were in Israel and picturing the cloud of witnesses cheering us on as we ran the dirt track there. But when I read these verses last week, it wasn’t the idea of a crowd cheering me on or the image of the hippodrome by the Mediterranean Sea that came to mind. Instead it was the trail to the lighthouse at Ludington State Park.

On our recent vacation, we spent a few nights camping in Ludington, and one hot morning we hiked the lighthouse trail. For those of you not familiar with it – it’s about a mile and a half to lighthouse – mostly flat, on an access road through dunes and near small ponds. There’s a lot of sand and stones to get caught in your sandals and not much shade at all. There’s a side trail to a shipwreck to explore on the beach, and various interpretive signs along the way and it’s one of our favorite hikes. We like to take the road/trail out and then hike back along the beach. And I will admit that though it isn’t very far, it usually feels longer and farther than you think it might. Especially if the wind is fierce . . .

This time as we hiked, we saw another family coming back toward us – a mom and 3 girls – all looking hot and tired and a bit exasperated. The two older girls, maybe 8 or 9 years old, were walking ahead of their mom, cheeks flushed, but doing fine. The youngest daughter – maybe 5 years old, was behind her, and sat down on the road, took off one of her sandals and said, ‘it’s too far!’ Her mom replied, ‘Keep going! We’ve got to put one foot in front of the other. Don’t sit down! We just have to keep going!’

As I read these words from Hebrews last week I kept seeing that little girl sitting in the middle of the path, her legs stretched out in the sand, and her mom calling to her, ‘Keep going!’ ‘One foot in front of the other . . .’ ‘Keep going!’

I am so thankful we had some time away and at the same time it’s a bit hard to come back, even though I love our home and our work and all of you. I’m tired of being home most of the time, of preaching to my phone, of calling instead of seeing people. Of so many things being so different and complicated. It’s easy for me to grow weary. I need that encouragement – one foot in front of the other. Keep going. Keep praying. Keep listening. Keep loving. You are not alone. You are surrounded by witnesses. Jesus goes before and behind and alongside each one of us, day by day, step by step. Keep going!