Up where the air is sweet...

The road is narrow

And the path is steep,

But up above

The air is sweet.

Do we always feel like we have to get somewhere for all to be good? Why is the path always the trying part? Isn't it also good? We run to win the prize, but the path isn't a hurdle to the finish line, it is the means. It is good because of where it's leading. Not that bad things don't happen or that there are no hurdles, but the path isn't something to take a deep breath and plunge into stoically. It's something to rejoice in and take joy from. And the air does get sweeter.

Let me give an example to help that make sense. I want to know God. I want to know His character so well and His voice so easily. How do I get there? I spend time with Him and I read His words in the Bible. The Bible isn't something that I should pull out grudgingly and wonder when I'll have read and soaked in enough to be at that point I want to be at with God. It's something I should rejoice in and take joy from. Every time I open the Bible I am learning from God and I am taking another step along the path. I become closer to God as I go.

I don't despair that I'm not at the top. I rejoice that I am where I am and that I am moving upwards. I don't think to myself, 'What's the point? I never reach the top.' because the point is to reach the top when I reach the top. At this moment, the point is to be where I am, climbing and enjoying the view as I go. Of course I have the end in mind - that's why I'm on this path, it's taking me to the prize. But the journey is good.

I'm not actually sure if any of this makes sense. It's got to do with contentment and it's got to do with perseverance and it's got to do with joy in all circumstances and it's got to do with finding the good in where you're at. Find joy in your struggle to climb.

I could talk a lot more about most of these points... and perhaps I should. I'm afraid that some of what I've said may be misinterpreted. I don't mean that we should be sluggish in our climb. Analogies always fall apart at some point and they can feel rather abstract, so if this just left you confused and it didn't help you at all, then just ignore it.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Take a deep breath. Hold your hands above your head. Take a hold of your heart and hang it on the sky. Don't let go. Open your eyes. Jump. Find a spot in the blue sky and fly there. Don't give up; keep going. Never come back down. 

Have big dreams because God does big things. Fix your eyes on Him and you will never fall. Hardships will come and things will look dim, but there are no failures when you are following God. 

Do take care to seek God's will. Find where He is working and join Him there. Hang your heart on His. 

I will bless the Lord at all times;

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

    let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

    and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me

    and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant,

    and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

    and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps

    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,

    for those who fear him have no lack!

The young lions suffer want and hunger;

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, O children, listen to me;

    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

What man is there who desires life

    and loves many days, that he may see good?

Keep your tongue from evil

    and your lips from speaking deceit.

Turn away from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous

    and his ears toward their cry.

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears

    and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

    and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

He keeps all his bones;

    not one of them is broken.

Affliction will slay the wicked,

    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems the life of his servants;

    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Ps 34