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Things That Hinder

             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,  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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

 

            Christmas is over. New Year's is on the horizon. It’s time for the dreaded retrospectives and resolutions. Many are so disappointed with this past year that they don’t want to think about it, and they know from experience that the resolutions aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. In other words, with retrospectives and resolutions come recriminations.

            And so we come to today’s passage, thinking ourselves a failure because we don’t think we’re winning the race we think we’re supposed to run. But if it were as easy as we think it’s supposed to be, why would the author of Hebrews have to give this instruction. Why wouldn’t he have put it in the past tense? Why would he have to remind people that sin so easily entangles? Why would we need Jesus, His journey to the cross, and His ascension to the right hand of the throne of God as our example? If it were easy, why would a cloud of witnesses bother to watch? There are only two reasons that make sense. Either they are there to cheer us on or they are there to enjoy our shame-filled failure. Tradition holds that it is the former, and I have no reason to debate against that tradition. But that takes us back to their needing to cheer us on, which means it can’t be easy.

            I think I tend to think that throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that entangle is a one-time thing. I recriminate when I face-plant again and again while the audience is whispering or shouting, “Get up! Get up!” I should know better, but I end up focused more on the things that hinder and ignoring the calls to run.

            So, as we look toward 2024, I know my theme: “When I am tried, I will come forth as gold.” The main goals that come to mind are to love God and others better, to get stronger and healthier so I can help more, to learn to do more so I can help more, and to be more creative (partly by finishing my book!) None of those are measurable, and I can guarantee that they’ll all be ghosts – but that’s when I get to figure out what the things are that hinder so I can throw them off.

            What do you need to throw off? Especially, what are the things that have been hindering you over and over?

 

 

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