“But one thing I do: 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 3:13-14

I’m writing this with one blurry eye, an accident of my own doing, a pain inflicted upon me by another because I would not heed his advice. He told me not to turn around. He even stopped me earlier and warned me that turning around could get me hurt. Although I tried to listen to him, and even said out loud to myself, “DON’T TURN AROUND,” a bad force of habit kept me doing it and sure enough, up 12-5 and serving in the third game (with my wife watching), I turned around to see what was going on and got smacked clean in the left eye with the racquet ball from four feet away. End of game; can’t see the court.

As we’re driving home, my wife suggests we take a trip to the hospital.

“Naw,” I say, “I’ve been smacked before.”

“You know,” she says, “people our age need to be careful. You could easily get a detached retina.” Our age? I think to myself. What’s that supposed to mean? I let it slide.

“Okay,” I said. “If I my vision gets weird later on, I’ll go in. But just so you know; if my arm falls off or something, it’s totally unrelated.” She didn’t laugh.

Fast-forward to me in the shower (about twenty minutes ago). There is something about this incident that tells me there’s more to it than meets the eye (Sorry. Couldn’t help it). I’m thinking about how looking behind me got me hurt, and if I would have just faced forward I would probably have won the game. Then Paul’s statement to the Philippians comes to mind, and I know what it is that bothers me. I’ve never been hurt by those things coming from behind me, from my past, when I’ve given them to the Lord. Continue Reading