Where I live we're just getting into this new school year. Some students are already back, some students return for a day and a half before the Labor Day weekend break, and others return after Labor Day. If you know me you know that I'm not a fan of winter, so I don't want summer to leave, but there's something to be said for the forward movement of each year. We go from one grade to the next, one class to the next, one school to the next, all in hopes that each new year builds on the previous one and we can see progress being made in how we understand the world, how we interact with others, and our ability to plan for and work with the challenges the future brings.
As I was listening to a sermon the other day I was reminded that each time we make a choice about our victory journey we're often choosing typically between two options: towards the possibility of victory or staying where we are. Choosing to stay where you are isn't always the wrong decision, sometimes what we need to do at that point in time is to wait and let things develop a little more. But all too often I think we let the fear get the best of us and we start to have doubts in our ability to complete a victory journey or if it's even worth starting because it seems like the odds are against us, which means we decide that we might as well stay where we are rather than giving it a try and learning from the lessons we experience even if they aren't quite the steps we were expecting or hoping they would help us take or bring us to the result we were hoping for.
I do know that sometimes the thing that really gets us is our awareness of how little time we have for anything, and therefore we really want to make sure we've got good odds and a good plan and a high probability of success before we make the next move. But what if knowing that there's a good possibility that you're headed in the right direction is the best sign you're going to get? What if God/the universe is just waiting for you to step forward in faith and trust and not to wait until all 12 ducks are in a row? Because honestly, while baby ducks may follow each other and mom, they're not often in the straightest of rows and there's often one playing catchup.
So this week whether you're diving into another school year or know someone who is, or not, I encourage you to be open to the possibilities that each day can bring, and embracing at least a few of these. Don't be afraid of trying and failing or trying and not liking something because that's all part of learning and growing, and few victories happen without learning or growth.
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