O is for Obstacles

When I was studying to be an elementary teacher, I had to take a class to learn how to teach PE effectively. One of the favorite lessons that we did with the students was when we set up an obstacle course. It was never excessively challenging – but it always had areas to jump, objects to climb, and places to overcome. The students would take turns going through and the object was to not just get the fastest time, but also to improve their time. Students were rewarded for getting better just as much as they were for being the best.

The obstacle courses always started out benign and would increase in difficulty as we encountered older students. A few students would rather sit down and not participate – but nonparticipation was never an option. Some students hesitated and wavered before starting, but gained confidence when they saw others make it through unscathed. Others performed their best when their friends cheered them on. But once finished, they were always able to go through a second or even a third time more quickly and with more confidence.

As much fun as it was for the students to go through a made up set of challenges and obstacles, when we must contend with them in our own life, it isn’t so pleasant. From time to time it can appear as if our lives are one big obstacle course. There is a continuous stream of something we must jump through, like an interview for a job or a promotion. There is constantly a wall we must climb, like getting fired, or the death or illness of someone we love. And it seems like there is always something we must overcome, like fear, or depression, or an illness of our own.

And just like the elementary students we hesitate and waver when those obstacles appear before us. We don’t want to go through the obstacles in our path. Sometimes we would rather sit down and stay right where we are – but nonparticipation is not an option. When we encounter others who have gone before us and see that they made it through, when we have our friends and family cheering us on, then we can make it. We might stumble, we might drop things, we may need help scaling the wall, but if we approach it in community with God’s help, we will finish. And when the obstacle race is over, we will be stronger, more confident and ready to face the next challenge.

For me, one of the biggest obstacles in my life has been fear. Whether real or imagined, fear has kept me from doing many things. But now that I believe that nonparticipation is not an option, I have begun to step out. The fears have not gone away - but I am no longer living as if they have power. It is scary out here - but I am still pushing forward. And in doing so, I have grown closer to my children, and my husband. I have discovered that I am stronger than I thought I was and I have friends who love me deeply and are cheering me on. Facing my obstacles and moving forward has improved my life. I still have fear - but it no longer has me.

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ~James 1:3, 4