BE SURE OF YOUR COURSE, AND THEN KEEP GOING!
By: Tom Butterfield
The setting was a cold January morning in a little town in Wisconsin, on the southern shore of Lake Superior. It happened to be the Saturday when they had their annual dog sled derby on the ice. A one-mile course had been staked out by sticking little fir trees in the ice. The whole course was easily visible because of the steep slope of the shore.
It was a youngsters’ meet and the contenders ranged all the way from large boys with several dogs and big sleds to one little fellow who didn’t seem over five with a little sled and one small dog. They took off at the signal and the little fellow with his one dog was quickly outdistanced–he was hardly in the race. All went well with the rest until, about halfway around, the team that was second
started to pass the team then in the lead. They came too close and the dogs got in a fight. And as each team came up the dogs joined the fight. None seemed to be able to steer clear of it. Soon, there was just one big black seething mass of kids and sleds and dogs–all but the little fellow with his one that managed it, and the only one to finish the race.
As I reflect on the many vexing problems, and the stresses of our times that complicate their solutions, this simple scene from long ago comes vividly alive. And I draw the obvious moral: No matter how difficult the challenge or how impossible or hopeless the task may seem, if you are reasonably sure of your course, just keep on going!
As you run the race it may seem more like an obstacle course. Like the little boy, you’ll have to maneuver around some fussy, fighting folks. While you are trying diligently to live right and run a good race they spend their time and energy fighting for recognition or preeminence. Each of them wants to be “top dog!”
While you run your race you may hear people shouting about how races ought to be run, but they don’t run – they just talk. I don’t know about you, but I simply don’t have the time or desire to be listening to people who have nothing better to do than to tell me I can’t do what I’m already doing! (Matt. 10:22; Rev. 2:10)