“One Toe In (Part 4): Point You Or Point Them”

     Let's do some more spiritual work using our story “One Toe In”. If this is your first week joining us, we've been discussing the decisions we make when we reach obstacles in our journey. Here's a brief recap:
     You're heading towards a beautiful destination but are unsure how to get there. You were granted a guide to lead the way. You and your guide. along with another traveler and guide approach a roaring river. Your guide asks for your trust and tells you to cross at Point You while the other traveler and guide head down to a seemingly easier and faster route at Point Them. You decide to test the waters at Point You and you immediately stub the one toe that you stuck in the water.

This is a pattern in my own life that I had to work hard to break. 

     Over the last couple of weeks, we've discussed the importance of recognizing that perseverance is a choice. We must decide for ourselves whether or not the desired destination is worth the challenge and pains of overcoming obstacles on our journey. We also talked about trusting Jesus as our guide. How much will we continue to trust Him when we encounter those obstacles?
     This week, let's talk about Point You versus Point Them. This is a pattern in my own life that I had to work hard to break. There were so many times that I was focused on the ease of someone else's journey that I lost sight of my desired destination. I was so consumed as to why they seemed to be getting where they wanted to go without obstacles, that I often questioned whether or not I chose the right path.

We wonder what it is about us that attracts obstacles rather than deters them.

Click here to read "Focus" in its entirety.

     We only have one pair of human eyes. It is impossible to keep them on our road at the same time that we have them on someone else's. That's both literally and figuratively speaking. How can we use the blessings that God gives us if we are constantly focused on others' blessings? It's difficult to be thankful for our gifts if we are constantly bemoaning the Lord about others.
     It doesn't necessarily derive from a sense of jealously. We may just find it unfair. We sometimes begin to question our worth to God when we see someone else having an easier go at life. We wonder why our journey has been riddled with obstacles while theirs seems to be smooth sailing. We wonder what it is about us that attracts obstacles rather than deters them. We begin to internalize this sense of unfairness and unacceptability and it extends to other facets of our psyche and our lives.

---

Living vicariously through others must become a non-starter. 

     We can often benefit from watching others because we can learn from their wins and failures. We must remember though that it is exactly that...their wins and their failures, not ours. If we want to develop expertise and grow our faith, then we must have our own life experiences. We can't be so caught up on what's happening to others that we neglect to make things happen for ourselves. Living vicariously through others must become a non-starter. We have to live our own lives.
     When we live for ourselves, and when we live the life that God has given us instead of focusing on what He has given to others, we realize that crossing at Point You is part of our path while crossing at Point Them is a part of theirs. We must trust that Jesus is our guide and is leading us on the correct path for what we are to accomplish. Unless we take that path, we will never know what He has in store for us. The obstacles we encounter will strengthen us and prepare us for the individual blessings that we are to receive.
     Remember that God loves us all equally. Though the plans He has for us may differ, we are of equal worth to Him. His plans for us are different because He made us different, therefore His designs for our lives will not be the same. So when we stub our toe in the water, let's not lament it because our fellow travelers seem to be doing OK. Instead, let us stay focused on what God has for us and continue to move forward with Him as our guide. 

---