You’ll find, whenever you’re trying to get anything done, opposition will rise up in your path as sure as weeds in a garden. It can be especially true when the thing you’re doing is the right thing to do. If you don’t want any opposition, don’t attempt anything.
Hurdles happen. It’s a fact of life. But maybe they’re there for our own sakes. Maybe they’re all about testing our resolve. Or to fine tune the approach. Or to sharpen the idea.
The “Nos” on the track may only be resolve-testers toward the eventual “Yes.”
Hurdles happen. But most of the time they’re just hurdles. They’re not the Wall of China.
Another irony, the would-be roadblocks are often set up by good people, even our friends. We take that hard, but it happens.
Friend Peter said to Jesus, “That’s not going to happen to you,” to which Jesus replied, “Get behind me, Satan.”
Whoa!
Friends mean well; maybe they just don’t see the whole picture. And the only way they’ll be able to ever see it is for you to do it, build it, speak it, and let the proof be in the proving.
One difference between us and Jesus, you’ll say, is he really did always know the right thing to do and the right way to do it. Maybe we’re not so confident . . . of our ideas or our motives. Okay, these need to be checked. But even then, depend on the hurdles. They will come.
One thing about hurdles: They’re on the track. If you get off track, you won’t encounter them anymore.
Another thing: Hurdles are set at just about the right height to barely scale. Once you can routinely handle those, they’ll be adjusted to a higher notch. Bigger people get higher hurdles to start with. (Jesus’s was the largest of all.)
Hurdles happen. But just because they do doesn’t mean you’re supposed to quit. Quite conversely. They are there to test who you really are.
Hurdles happen.
Keep running.
_________
Next: Another zany post: The Entabulator, coming Friday.
Feel free to share with a friend.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
10:46 am
Great thoughts on hurdles, Hyatt. I look back (way back at times, now that I’m getting on in years!) and see how I more often than not saw hurdles way out of proportion. Most of the time, there was just as much good reinforcement coming at me as there was with what I perceived as negative. I think God balances the test with mercy and beauty along the way, we simply fail to see it. When going through an uncomfortable illness a while back, my pain was severe, yet I specifically remember times of being “in the moment” when I connected with God and his comfort and peace in a way that could have been achieved in no other way. I remember those “dark” times now, years later, as appointments with Jesus that have shaped my views of his promised closeness when difficulties come. My conclusion is… a weighty hurdle/trial/obstacle = an equal bestowing of comfort, peace and joy. Do we not challenge our own children in this way, ideally?
11:45 am
Good one. Like the bit about “just hurdles…not the great wall of China.” I keep remembering what you said to me concerning finances in the future: “those are just details.” Thanks Dad. love you.
11:58 am
Excellent, Hyatt! There’s enough stuff in those few lines to make one stop & do some thinking! Love the line, “They’re on the track. If you get off track, you won’t encounter them anymore.” Thanks for the excellent parable!
1:03 pm
I agree with you Hyatt. Very well said. I do believe hurdles help us to keep going forward and stretching for things that are just out of our reach at the moment.
2:49 pm
Great! If not for the hurdles, we would not develop our potential or know actually where we were/are going and Who is along helping us and never letting us go!
4:10 pm
Hyatt, amazing. I struggle to post even once a month on my own blog, so rarely do it and on impulse at that. How can you have so many words in you to share that you commit to three times a week? And all worthwhile to hear. Really. Thank you for sharing your gift of words as well as your art. Keep them coming as I do appreciate them. Blessings.
5:01 pm
Hi Hyatt. I’m sitting here in dc waiting for dinner and pondering something different to do for our marriage prep class. What an inspirational piece. It is amazing how Christ places stars of light in those we meet. I think a group discussion on the hurdles we’ve faced and how our faith helped us overcome them will be the perfect addition to our class. Thank you. Randy
5:33 pm
Hi again Hyatt! I feel so blessed and thankful to know and be able to learn from a man blessed to have so much wisdom and talent all in one person! I remember sitting in your art class and watching you teach painting with a huge smile on my face because you showed utter delight working through the challenges of painting a painting ——and publically!—— in front of an audience! —– with all the hurdles there are when you do something as difficult as that —–with such ease and humor! I watched and listened with such utter satisfaction, to be getting Hyatt’s person, wisdom, truth, understanding, humor, freedom, artistic talent, happiness—–all in one fell swoop! Terrific! You are doing it again except that this is written in front of me and all of us lucky ones, for delicious digestion! How I loved this hurdle one! So true! So freeing! Thank you! Love love Lisa
7:32 pm
Hola Hyatt, Good sample of literature! I intended to post a comment but after reading all others I find the task too hurdleful to even try. Even if I did they´d probably adjust a higher notch…(incompatible with my rheumatism). Anyway I am so glad your readers are smart and sensible people worthy of the inspiration you are so capable to ignite. Sigue escribiendo !!
10:41 pm
Wonderful piece Hyatt. Can I just say I want to run the race and finish well! In the Natural I may not be able to run and jump over Olympic size hurdles but in the Supernatural with the Holy Spirit cheering me on …pass me the baton and I press on to the calling of Chist Jesus. Keep the wise Blogs coming as I, for one, thoroughly enjoy your encouragement!
6:54 am
Very timely. Thank you! Hurdles are healthy. I figure it should be a warning sign if they are absent for any amount of time. That would mean that one would be coasting too long :( It reminds me to keep my eyes fixed on what’s on the other side.
10:40 am
Isn’t it interesting how we baby ourselves? Our human nature wants everything easy. Some want to play an instrument, but don’t want to practice; some want a healthy body, but don’t feel like working out; students want As, but put studies on the back burner, and Christians want to get closer to the Lord, but don’t want to make the sacrifice of getting alone with God and studying his word. Hurdles can be distractions as well as problems. We focus on what we want, or don’t want. We stare at problems and use them as excuses not to move forward. Yes hurdles should be welcomed as challenges, and challenges are not for babies.
9:38 am
I like your analogy of ‘hurdles’ Hyatt. I want to add in order to clear hurdles easily we have to measure our strides between them lest we find ourselves flat on our faces. We discipline ourselves to run efficiently clearing the hurdles just barely to be faster and win.
5:30 am
Hyatt, your words of wisdom are truly blessing me.