On a trip to Hawaii, my husband and I participated in an excursion that consisted of enjoying an amazing sunrise at the top of a volcano, followed by a bike ride down the mountain. Haleakala has an elevation over 10,000 feet with breathtaking views. So, I was thrilled to be on this experience!
In my naiveté, I thought, “It’s like riding a bike!” Literally! How hard can it be?
But when they placed me on said bike, and the scope of the tour in front of me came into view, fear seeped in. I saw the sharp hills and twisting roads and immediately envisioned being covered in road rash (or worse!) after one false move sends me plummeting down the steep inclines.
So, I did what any sane person would do. I rode the brakes. I went down that mountain like a grandma on a motorized scooter with a low battery and didn’t care one little bit that I was holding up the group behind me as the gap between me and the person in front of me grew larger and larger.
Eventually, the guide pulled over, and as all of his ducklings followed suit, I admit I was a wee bit embarrassed when he came right over to me. Fortunately, he was patient as he advised. “Amy, you’re looking down, right in front of your tire. You need to look several feet ahead, look into the curve you’re approaching. Your body will follow where your eyes are fixed.”
And, lo and behold, he was right! I resisted my instinct to look just ahead of me and forced my eyes ahead. As we came into a curve, I looked toward the other side of the curve and soon found myself relaxing and actually enjoying the ride. As my confidence grew, I gained speed and kept up with the rest of the group.
The guide’s words stuck with me, and I realized there is life wisdom found in them.
“Your body will follow where your eyes are fixed.”
If my chin is tucked and my eyes are downcast in trepidation, I will always lag behind.
However, when I fix my eyes on where I want to end up, my body will follow. So, I have to ask myself on a regular basis: Where am I looking? Is my vision set on my desired outcome? Perhaps it is a goal I want to reach, a skill I want to develop, or simply fixing my eyes on Jesus - whom I long to emulate more and more.
We all have somewhere we want to be. We have potential to unlock, dreams to fulfill, and hopes to accomplish. Let’s keep our eyes forward. This one bit of wisdom can help propel us and keep us moving at a steady speed. Imagine what we can accomplish when we do!
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