I started my run a few blocks from the trail head and just as I approached the start of the levee another gentlemen started down the path.  Uh-no!  a rabbit.   So as I rounded the first turn and could see across the levee for quite a distance I noticed there were several runners and walkers out in front of me.  One by one, I placed my eyes on the back of the individual in front of me and ran them down.  As I approached the first mile, I noticed another runner in the distance, maybe 1/4 mile ahead, and sub consciously I fixed in on him.  I traveled through the first mile 15 seconds faster than I wanted, but I was feeling so fleet a foot and completely in control.  I continued ahead, slowly gaining on the object of my fixation.   I come along side the final runner with about a third of a mile to my turn around marker, the two-mile.  We arrived together at the two-mile mark more than 20 seconds faster than my intended pace and even faster than the first mile. Yes!

He was continuing down the path, so we parted ways and I turned around.  Since there were no returning runners in front of me, I had nothing to focus on but to gloat of my achievements!  And as you can guess, my time greatly reduced on the two miles back in.

This morning, I came across these great proverbs

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

I could not help but be reminded of my trip across the levee last night.  As long as I had someone to focus on, to fix my gaze directly on, I was in the zone.  Moving efficiently and effectively towards the target – actually not even realizing the effort I was giving!  But as soon as I had no focus.  As soon as I could observe the grass, and the distance, and the birds, and get absorbing in myself gratifying thoughts, my efficiently was greatly reduced.

So it is with our spirits!  Make sure you are focused on the right thing today.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2 NIV

But instead, I decided to slow down and think about how many people I did actually talk with. It wasn’t much better.  When I calculated in all the people I spoke with even briefly, I could only come up with 13 people ( and only 12 face to face.)  That’s sort of sad, is it not?

Of course, I did communicate with several others via email and text messages, but it sort of made me feel lonely there in the big house, knowing that out of 7 billion people I only interacted with 13!

However, in reality, that’s how things go most of the time.  We have interactions with small groups of people, but those interacts can have large impacts – and that’s really the key.  Is it better to interact with 100 people with a very light touch, or with a small number but to make a deep impact. ( not saying I make a deep impact with the waitress at lunch, or the coffee bar girl, but I had to count them in the number!!!)

All of this to say, make sure you are making your interactions with other count today – not to create a large tally of interactions, but to make a large impact!

¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.   Hebrews 3:13 New International Version (NIV)

I think this is a great admonishing for you to consider today, maybe because I spend a lot of time thinking about the quote from Andy Stanley that I shared with y’all back in November ( I can’t believe it was that long ago!)  Remember that quote about using your influence to make others around you better?

It’s a very similar concept.  Reach out.  Work with others.  Take a risk to make them better.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, Hebrews 10:24 ESV

14How much more is done by the blood of Christ. He offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God.

¹⁵For this reason Christ brings a new agreement from God to his people. Those who are called by God can now receive the blessings he has promised, blessings that will last forever. They can have those things because Christ died so that the people who lived under the first agreement could be set free from sin. Hebrews 9:14-15New Century Version (NCV)

Live free today, serve, and it will indeed be the best day of the year!

So, what are you going to do today, that you would normally have put off.  Don’t let 2013 roll around and find you still in the same spot.  Start – Today.

¹⁵ As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”  Hebrews 3:15 New International Version (NIV)

How can you leverage your power and influence to make others successful?

Now if I could just live that way!

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13 NIV)

And so, I guess it’s only appropriate to consider another one of those verses I seem to mention a lot from the fun book of Hebrews about realizing the others that have lived on this great big blue and green ball.  After the writer of this book travels through time calling out those ‘saints’ that have gone before him in Hebrews 11, he pens this

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 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. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12

Gain strength from remembering those that have gone before you, and do not lose heart!

But here is it upon us, National Coffee Day – so enjoy a coffee break and a cup of joe!  Several coffee serving establishments are giving it away today. Over at Punchbowl.com, you can even send a Coffee Day e-card for free, to share the love!

Actually I love the idea of coffee, because it is so associated with sitting down and having deep conversation.  So, maybe you should consider taking a cup of the world’s favorite beverage over to a friend, or an enemy, and share some time with them.  I am sure it will make their day!  Even I would probably suffer through a cup ( laced with lots of cream and sugar) to spend time together!

 ^22-25So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25 The Message (MSG)

That got me thinking about Hebrews 12.

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1 New International Version (NIV)

“Hey, are you still running?” he asked me.

“Yes”, I replied.

He then commented “Not me, I am just getting fat and lazy.  That’s the difference between runners and joggers, runners keep running.”

To which I said “Well, you can do it, it’s just one step at a time”

and he finished as we parted ways,  “You are right. No excuses. I just have to get out there and go!”

Yep, and that is the same way with our spirituality, we can be a spiritual jogger or runner. But I think we are pushed to be runners:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

Which are you going to be a fat and lazy jogger, or a running who keeps going.  Get out there and go, or as the Message says “Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.“