I saw a tightrope artist go across the Lincoln Center today.  As I watched the clown precariously walk on that shaking, thin wire over our heads I couldn’t help but think of our walk with God.  I could imagine what was going through his head as he took his first few steps.  If his world is like mine, no matter how many times he walks that wire there is a sense of “what am I doing here?”.  Each shaky step brings both a bracing for the next step and a sigh of relief that the last step held him sure. 

Another thing is that he can’t look down, nor can he get lost in the final destination.  No, each step is what he needs to focus on.  Occasional glances to the end point encourages him along the way, but each step has to be sure and firm.

He also can’t go too fast nor too slow.  If he tries to rush it, he’ll lose his balance and plummet.  If he goes to slow he’ll psych himself out with all of the dangers around him.  No, it’s a slow and steady pace that will get him to the end of his journey.  There is too much banking on this step to be preoccupied with what had happened 5 steps ago.

I find our walk of faith to be like that.  If you look around you or look down you can get overwhelmed by your circumstances,  but if you look ahead and focus on what is in front of you you can take the next step.  According to Scripture the apostle Peter walked on the water, yet when he saw the wind and the waves he began to sink.  One thing stands out to me about that story: what does wind and waves have to do with walking on water?  We can criticize Peter for sinking but he was the only one to step out of the ship.

When the tight rope walker got to the other side of the Lincoln Center and stepped on the roof of the building, there was a shout from all of us.  No one was a loud as the walker himself, who had finished his task and now could celebrate his achievement.

At the twilight of his ministry, the apostle Paul said to his protege Timothy:

I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

May we all be able to celebrate at the end of our walk.  But until then, we just need to focus on the next step…