Philippians 3:13-14 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Another semester at the college where I teach has come to a close. All my students’ speeches (much to their delight) are over. The intrigue of hearing one another’s stories for thirteen weeks concludes with a sense of abruptness. This particular combination of people will never experience the phenomenon known as Public Speaking 104 again.
No matter how many times I experience the end of the semester, my feelings always land on bittersweet. I’m ready for a break from routine, but a feeling of sadness peeks around the edges. Knowing I’ve played a small part in seeing fear-filled, apprehensive students develop into more confident communicators produces an inevitable bond.
Life consists of endless hellos and goodbyes. Unfortunately, I tend to be a hanger on-er. I think that’s one of the reasons God called me to a profession where I’m forced to let go every four months. He wants to teach me the art and beauty of letting go.
I love how the Apostle Paul encourages us to keep pressing on. To not let the past either lull us into complacency or glue us in regret. God has more for us than either the past or the present. He wants us to have an ongoing mindset that strains forward to launch into the next step, the next mile…the next class of students.
Some insist we learn to let go by never getting attached in the first place. (Yeah, tell that to a new mother). I don’t believe that’s the kind of life Jesus calls us to live. Although he didn’t “entrust himself” to man (John 2:24), he engaged deeply with everyone he encountered. And if anyone ever pressed on toward the upward call, it was Jesus. Neither the pleasure of fellowship with his disciples nor the pain of the cross caused him to hold on to the present. He embraced every day to the fullest with deep assurance of the joy ahead (Heb. 12:2).
I pray that we, like Jesus, keep straining ahead to that high call. Each day has its own beauty, but if we cling to it, we just might miss the next day’s bidding.