Day three of the county fair was blistering hot. I was sweaty, dusty, exhausted, and burned out from showing chickens and horses and projects. The kids were hungry and we had a break between horse events so the hubby and I headed across the fairgrounds to grab a bite to eat, the kids trudging behind us.
While queued up at the VFW booth, debating the merits of cheese versus regular burgers, my cousin looked around and casually asked, “Where’s Violet?” I turned my head, expecting to see her a few steps away, knowing she was with us when we got in line. But I didn’t spot her. I figured she’d wandered into the nearby poultry barn to check on our chickens so I left the line to peek inside the building. But she wasn’t in there.
Mildly alarmed, I scanned the area for my seven-year-old. The fairgrounds are like a scene in Where’s Waldo: People milling about carrying balloons, people laughing, kids crying, flashing carnival lights, a cacophony of music blaring from various booths. My throat went dry as I realized she was nowhere in sight and I’d never find her in this sea of sights and sounds. I told my husband to stay at the booth in case she came back. Not wanting to waste one more second, I headed straight to the police tent … praying she was okay. I called my mom on the way so she could start searching over on her end.
I stopped an officer at the police booth. My voice faltering, choking back tears, I told him we lost our seven year old. Clearly picturing her little face, I gave him a detailed description. “Blonde hair in two braids, blue eyes, pink tank top, jeans, and cowboy boots. Her name is Violet.” As he furiously scribbled down her description and started to reach for his walkie-talkie I got a text from my aunt. “We found her.”
Relief washed over me as I thanked the officer and sprinted back to the horse barn. I prayed, thanking God for my smart daughter who had enough sense to head back to the area where she knew people.
I walked up to her with tears in my eyes and hugged her tight. She looked equally relieved. I asked her what happened and she looked up at me with her innocent, beautiful blue eyes and said, “Mommy I was just so distracted looking at all the wonderful sights that I lost track of you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh a little through my tears at her sweet, innocent honesty.
Distraction comes naturally to all of us. The world beckons with plenty of enticing diversions. Just like my daughter, it is easy to get taken in by the “wonderful sights” and lose track of our calling, our priorities, and our relationship with God. Her sweet admission of how easily she lost track of her parents reminded me of Hebrews 12:1-2 where we are exhorted to fix our eyes on Jesus.
“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.”
The verse is packed with practical wisdom of how we can run the race marked for us without losing focus.
Follow the example of those who have gone before.
The verse speaks of a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on in our race. The Bible is full of examples of heroes of the faith who have gone before us. We see their human failings, we see them being distracted, we see them sinning and the consequences of their sin. And we see the loving way our Father cares for his people and his faithfulness. We can follow the examples of great men and women of God who served Him in big ways and small.
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” ~Romans 15:4
Throw off whatever is holding you back.
We are instructed to throw off everything that hinders us. Everything means everything. Oftentimes this requires asking God, “What in my life is holding me back from pursuing my calling? What is distracting me?” I am the queen of letting the urgent crowd out the important and it takes a toll on my spiritual health, on my relationships, and my family. When I protect my calendar, evaluate my priorities, and leave plenty of margin I find so much more peace in my life, my mood, and my household.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ~ Romans 12:2
Don’t let sin enslave you.
The verse points out how sin easily entangles. Sometimes it’s almost too easy to be entangled in sin. So easy that I don’t even notice it happened. Throwing off sin is a purposeful action. It takes strength and commitment. It takes identifying sin in your life and laying it down. When we accept Christ, our sins have already been forgiven so why do we let them ensnare us and hold us back?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
You can’t fix your eyes on someone you don’t know. To stay focused and grow in your knowledge of Christ it is imperative that Bible study, prayer, and scripture memorization are a daily part of your life. There are no shortcuts to this. And no end to the rewards.
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” ~1 John 1:3-6
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” ~ Psalm 119:15
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” ~ Proverbs 2:1-5
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” ~Psalm 119:105
God knows your name. He knows every detail. And he pursues you just like I pursued my girl. He loves you and wants nothing more than the best for you and your life. If you do get distracted, return your gaze to Jesus. He promises us that when you seek him with all your heart, He is right there ready to welcome you into his arms.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11-13
All smiles again.
Post Script…. As I recounted to my mom how terrified I was while giving my daughter’s description to the police officer Violet lit up and said, “Oh mommy I stopped at that police booth on my way back to the barn. See? They gave me a pencil.” Awesome.
