Martha Hill Jamison

Philippians 3:12-4:1 (NIV)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Reflection:
In every scary movie, why does the potential victim (usually a woman), running from her would-be attacker, spend so much time looking over her shoulder? Does that make her run faster? Does that slow down the attacker?

I asked my son Sam — a former college track athlete — if it is helpful to keep an eye on the competition during a race. Sam told me that, in 99% of racing situations, looking back is not a smart idea. When a runner looks backward, he is no longer running to win.

It IS tempting, however, to take a little peek. Your legs are tiring. You worry about being passed by the pack. Or, maybe your lead is so great that the race is already won! One little peek won’t hurt, will it?

Sam says that nothing good comes from looking back over your shoulder. If you see a runner gaining on you, you might give up. If you see a huge lead, you might ease up. In either case, you stop running your race. You stop straining forward. This is Paul’s admonishment to the Philippians: forget what is behind. Look to what lies ahead!

Somebody who did not look over his shoulder: Rocky Balboa!

In his Rocky II reprise of the training run to the top steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky does not look over his shoulder and, more, he attracts hundreds of others to run with him. This also is Paul’s admonition. Keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

Rocky’s first followers on his training run are neighbors who have known Rocky since they were kids together. Next, he picks up young people who know about and admire his successes. Then, more runners join the pack. Perhaps they are attracted to his look of determination (he has been running a long way by now). The last runners join only because they see so many others following Rocky.

Then, Rocky sees it: the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The hardest part of the race. The end is in sight. Rocky sprints down Benjamin Franklin Parkway with a finishing kick.

You won’t always know who thinks of your life as a model. You may not see, as Rocky did, hundreds in the street following your example. But, they are out there. As you march into St. Luke’s down the Fellowship Walk, let the Rocky theme play in your head. Acknowledge the cloud of witnesses who have walked the same hallway and deem yourself worthy to walk with them. Gonna fly now!

Prayer:
Dear God,
Keep me from looking over my shoulder at past mistakes. Help me to strain towards what is ahead. Help me to live and love like Jesus. Help me to finish the race. Amen.