It is Saturday and I have been asked by my Sunday school teacher to lead the class discussion in the morning due to illness on his part. I have done this in the past and have never had a lesson already to go just in case I am needed. I always rely on inspiration.
This past weekend I ran a half marathon in St. Louis and figured that I could use it as some kind of tie in, but nothing was coming to me. I requested help from my Facebook friends and Marti came through. She suggested a topic of “Staying the course, even with the detours”.
During the race, we had a specific course that we had to follow. If was preplanned to cover a specific distance and you could not vary from it. Our lives are not that easy. We do not have them laid out before us at birth and given to us and we just have to follow the designated path. There are no boundaries to keep us on course. We have free will to take whatever path we want. I can think of many “detours” along the way that distract us from the end goal.
They come in the form of relationships, kids, career changes, health issues, etc. I had a co-worker that had some health issues earlier this year and was diagnosed as having cancer and had to ask for time off of work. He lost his battle with cancer this past week and is now in heaven. This is definitely a detour for his family that was left behind. Marti’s daughter, Steffanie, would have celebrated her 31st birthday yesterday, but instead lost her life in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Her family and friends lives have been drastically affected by this tragedy. It is hard to understand God’s will and the course that He has set for us.
We have no way of knowing what will change the direction of our lives. We have to keep focused on the ultimate goal of being like Christ and knowing that we will end up with eternal life with Him in heaven. We do this by being aware of our actions and how they affect those around us. We do this by knowing that God is with us at all times, good and bad. We can lean on Him for support in the tough times and rejoice with Him in our good times.
He says it clearly in Psalm 119-1-8 (The Message)
1You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.2 You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. 4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. 5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; 6 Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. 7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. 8 I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.
What do you need to do to get back on course?
