Keeping the Future In Mind

My rule for pacing myself kayaking is to always go against the current on the way out, and to only be "half tired" when I turn around. Presumably, that makes sure that I don't work as hard on the return route when I am more tired, but also, that half my energy remains. Some days, like yesterday, the weather was so ideal, and the river so beautiful that I broke my "half tired" rule. I was more than half tired when I finally forced myself to turn around. My shoulder began aching while I was still a good distance from the dock. I knew I would make it back, but I also berated myself for overdoing a good thing. What if I strained the muscles so badly that my September kayaking trip to the wild ponies in Chincoteague were compromised? It would not be good to sacrifice the long term life-long dream for the pleasure of the moment. It is always important to keep the future in mind.

God tries to teach us this lesson continually! We get caught up in the temporal, the things that give flashes of pleasure but will not last, and we sacrifice eternity! We waste our time, our money, our energy on trivial pursuits that will lose their luster in a day. Or we put off what we should do today. What we could have obtained for our future by diligence, is lost by laziness.

Don't lose sight of the future, the promise, the reward! Of equal import, don't neglect what you should do today, and don't squander the hours you are given in meaningless activity. All those thoughts crowded into my head as I pulled gratefully up to the dock. I made it...but just barely.

Next time, I will be very careful to only kayak till I am "half tired" and then turn around, not losing sight of how I will feel tomorrow!
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Galatians 6:8 

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.