Do you Know how to Ski?

“Hurry up, the race is starting!” my husband called.

I grabbed the popcorn and rushed to the living room to watch the Winter Olympics’ ski competition.

“How can they go down that mountain so fast without hitting all those trees?” I wondered.

“Focus on what you want, not what might stop you,” he said. “That’s what the commentator explained.”

My fingers raced to Google just the same. According to Rei.com: Scan the terrain ahead of you as you go so you can adjust to trees, rocks, stumps and other obstacles that may be in your way.  Don’t fixate on the trees, but rather the white spaces between them—this will help you steer where you want to go rather than where you don’t.

Hmmm.

Life sounds to me like skiing.

We make plans and set goals, but inevitably we face obstacles that threaten to block us, slow us down or stop us from reaching those goals.

So, what do we do?

We use the same strategy as the skiers.

1.We scan the terrain ahead so we can adjust to obstacles in our way

• We set a goal and make the pertinent short, middle and long-term plans (Financial, logistical, educational, etc.), taking in consideration all the possible issues that may arise along the way (supply chain shortages, injuries, sickness, loss of a job, etc.)

2. We focus on where we want to go and not on what may stop us.

• Yes, problems will arise, and challenges will threaten, but we need to keep our eyes on the end goal, just like Jesus did.
• Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Sometimes it feels like we’ll never make it, we’ll never graduate, succeed in our business, prosper financially or even lose those extra pounds.

This is when our faith kicks in to propel us forward.

This is when we focus on where we want to go and not on what may stop us.

This is when we surrender it all to Jesus so that He can give us the strength, endurance, discipline, intelligence and determination we need to keep going.

Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 CJB

We exercise the muscles of our faith and we trust and keep on keeping on until the trees disappear and all we see is the white shiny snow.

I invite you to partner with Jesus in your race down the slope of life.

He’s the best Coach, Guide and Friend you’ll ever have!