While watching television a few months ago, I observed a scene that surprisingly stayed with me. It remained on my mind days later, so I searched for it online and printed out a photo of the exact moment. There was something about it I wanted to see again and not just simply remember. I wanted to understand why this unexpected moment connected with me so strongly. For some reason, as strange as it was, there was something there for me to contemplate and learn from. Images are powerful, and as you can tell, this one made an impression. I have found that the scene, the specific moment, introduced me to a new approach. It encourages me to have courage and to seek strength and wisdom to know when I need to spin away toward something new. Maybe toward a new opportunity or a new attitude, so that I spin toward full trust in what God has planned for me. Or maybe I need to spin away from the grudges I hold or from stressful situations that can cause anxiety. These are not of God, so spinning away from them will help renew my spirit and guide me to a more full and grateful heart. This idea, this new approach of spinning away toward something better continues to stay with me, and the image that inspired it came from an unlikely time and place.
I use the word ‘spin’ because it is the action in the photo. It is an odd moment to find some comfort in, but we can be drawn to lessons and opportunities for growth at surprising times. My experience is an example of that. You might have watched the ‘big game’ on Sunday, so in recognition of the official end of the football season, I’ll share this unlikely but meaningful football moment for me. A few weeks before the end of the regular NFL season, I was watching my favorite team on TV. Things were going okay, but there was a little too much time left, so I was nervous. The other team scored, so they kicked-off to us. Our player returning the kickoff uncharacteristically bumbled the catch and had to pick up the ball on the one-yard line. I’m sure I yelled something unpleasant. This was not going to turn out well. And then it did. Just a few yards later, our player spun away as he approached the first defender in his path and kept running…99 total yards to the endzone. My attitude quickly changed from upset to overjoyed.
That run was replayed on sports programs all day, and as I watched several times (it never got old), I was always drawn to his spin – this act of spinning away from one thing and toward another. There are times when we should spin away and seek something new or better, but we don’t. Maybe we are too unsure of what is ahead; maybe we don’t feel strong enough to find out. I like this image of spinning away from anything that prevents us from living a life in Christ and spinning toward His grace and will for us. Let us pray for the strength, wisdom, and courage to know when to spin toward the lessons and opportunities the Lord has planned for us.
Journeying to Grace 