Fix Your Eyes on the Goal!

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13a-14

I'm not a thrill seeker - never have been and doubtful that I ever will be either. My excitement for the day was hurtling down a runway and taking off on two separate flights, to reach my final destination - Savannah - to visit my friend.

My first plane I was on, the runway is parallel to a river. So when we took off, we spent several minutes over the water. Visions of crashing and drowning flashed through my mind. Unlike my husband and two sons, I am not a swimmer.

I was glad when we were beyond the river and I rested a little more easily. There before me lay a miniature world. It reminded me of my oldest son's model railroad layout. Snow covered the landscape as far as the eye could see.

As we continued to ascend we passed through a thick layer of clouds. When we leveled off, all that was visible was a cottony blanket of clouds below and blue sky and sun above.

When I arrived at the airport this morning, the skies were overcast and gray. Who knew that just above waiting to be seen, was the sun and blue skies. Despite my uncomfortableness with water and heights, there is a beauty up here in the skies that is hard to describe.

I almost laughed as I listened to the airline stewardess explain the safety procedures as we departed. I remember as a young girl envisioning the exciting world as an airline stewardess. At the time I had never even flown. My biggest concern then, was whether or not I could pursue a career in this, since I wore (and still wear) glasses. Somewhere I had heard at the time that being visually impaired could be a deterrent.

Some people really enjoy flying. I know when my youngest son flew to China this past summer, he loved the flying aspect. I never am too excited about the way my ears pop. I don't enjoy the feeling of my stomach dropping out and being left behind somewhere.

Despite my trepidation, I still have taken to the skies. I have a goal in sight - a desire to be reacquainted with my dear friend in Georgia - so we can spend the week visiting together. At this point of my writing I can't see the goal, but I trust (God willing) that I will arrive safely in Savannah later this afternoon.

This makes me think of my spiritual walk as well. Often God will give us a vision of the path He desires for us to follow. Recently He has reaffirmed His call and desire for me to be faithfully writing and also seeking publication. Now I could just write and then put it in a drawer, but God has called me to go beyond that. I need to write and submit and work towards being a better writer. I trust that someday I will get a book published, even though I can't see that happening YET. I still fix my eyes on the goal and work towards that. In the process, I pray that God uses me and changes me into the Christian writer He desires for me to be.