How NOT to crash

It was a lesson I learned many years ago. My gymnast girlfriend (who would later become my wife) asked me to spot her while she performed a difficult maneuver on the balance beam. Having seen the carnage that can result when these tricks are done wrong, I was reluctant. But I did it anyway and to my surprise, she completed the move successfully. I was amazed...impressed...shoot, I was in love! I asked her how she did it. She said, "its all about the eyes," Its an amazing principle; the body will always follow the eyes. For a gymnast, one of the most important skills is being able to "spot" your landing. If you can see it with your eyes, chances are your body will follow along nicely. And this principle is true in almost every other sport too.

Years later I re-learned this lesson, but this time it left a scar. I was on my mountain bike bombing down a steep, narrow trail when I spotted a gnarly old root sticking up about a foot above the surface. It was coming at me so fast that I panicked and I did exactly the wrong thing; I stared right at it! I kept my gaze fixed on the only obstacle for a hundred feet in either direction. Before knew it, my front wheel struck the root squarely in the middle, the back of my bike heaved up and forward like a bucking bronco and in a flash, I was airborne. As I was saying good bye to the handlebars I remembered an article I had read in a cycling magazine days before about "How to Crash" (well, what do YOU read in the bathroom?) The author said that, while airborne, the most important thing is to tuck your chin to your chest so that you can roll when you land. So I tucked. And I rolled...sort of. In the end, I was bloodied and bruised, but alive.

Looking back, I learned that had I looked beyond the obstacle to the smooth trail not ten feet in front of that root, I would have been able to steer around it, or at least jump it. Many times since that day, I've been able to avoid danger by remembering the simple truth, "the body will always follow the eyes."

I'm thinking the same principle works on a spiritual level too. Paul said that we're transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12) so it makes sense that our focus (the "eyes of our hearts" as it were) will determine our direction. Currently, there are two issues for which this principle is extremely relevant.

The first is what we call "accountability." Much is made about the need for it as a part of a normal, healthy, Christian life. But I don't believe in it anymore; at least in the way its commonly practiced. You know the drill; a bunch of guys get together and talk about all the things they want to avoid. You know, lust, porn...and...well...lust and porn. With great zeal and sincerity they "ask each other hard questions," pray for each other and try harder next time. The problem with these groups, and the reason why they tend to be short-lived and ultimately ineffective is that the focus (the "eyes") are on the things they want to avoid. It seems to me that the pattern of New Testament teaching is to acknowledge the obstacles and dangers, but focus on the positive things. So rather than create an "accountability group" to help keep our eyes off the Playboy site, why not seek to hold each other accountable to, for example, "fix your thoughts (focus) on what is true and honorable and right...pure and lovely and admirable...excellent and worthy of praise." (Phi.4:8)


The second area has to do with the ongoing critique of conventional church. There's no shortage of criticism for church-as-usual,(and I've made my own contribution to that pile!) but if the focus continues to be on "what's wrong with the church" those of us who are trying to forge a new way forward will crash. If all we can see is the mistakes, the failures and the problems, I think all we can look forward to is making the same ones in the future ourselves. In my Bible, the Kingdom of Heaven prevails. There is reason to hope. We've been given both the Word and the Spirit of God, so even though the path ahead may be treacherous and risky, keeping our eyes focused on the right things will get us through. I'm so grateful to the many (and the number is increasing) voices out there who are quick to acknowledge problems, but are even quicker to shift their focus just a bit further ahead; towards solutions, new vision and direction from the Spirit.

There's is an example worth following, and I want to ride with them!