I had the privilege to play against arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Douglas Gretzky, aka “THE GREAT ONE”. He is the all – time leader in goals, assists and total points. He holds over 55 NHL records. The first time I played against him, something somewhat bizarre broke out, a brawl, and you guessed it, I was matched up with Gretzky. He’s not the biggest guy in the world (6’0-185lbs) So I pushed him away in search of someone a bit bigger (hockey etiquette, yes it’s a thing) He pulled me back as I began to skate away and asked if we could just pair off but not fight. Suddenly it occurred to me, “I’M WITH WAYNE GRETZKY!!” How cool is this?! I considered asking him for his autograph, a stick or something, but then thought better of it and decided to play it cool. The Great One was quoted at one time to have said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. This is great advice for sports and for life. I hope you take your shot in 2019.
The Apostle Paul says it this way:
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 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.”
Philippians 3:13-14
A few things to consider:
- ‘GOD IS CALLING YOU UPWARD IN 2019’ How will the trajectory of your life be pointed upward in 2019? To not answer that question, you’ve failed before you even begun. What will you add to, or subtract from your life to pursue ‘the prize’?
- ‘TO MOVE UPWARD IN 2019, YOU MUST FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND’ The great thing about the New Year is it provides a natural reset or ‘do-over’. The cross of Christ makes the do-over possible. Paul was a man that tortured and even murdered Christians. Is it possible he had to take his own advice daily, leave the past in the past, and trust God for a new tomorrow?
- ‘TO MOVE UPWARD IN 2019, YOU MUST STRAIN TOWARDS WHAT IS AHEAD’ Paul’s appeal is for us to “WIN TODAY”. At times the only thing more crippling than the past, is the fear of tomorrow. It’s important to have a vision for the future, but don’t camp out there. Tomorrow is God’s business. When Paul says ‘straining forward to what lies ahead’, he means that which is directly before you today. Be where you are. Be fully present. Enjoy today. Work hard and God will handle tomorrow.
Paul was grabbed by the true “GREAT ONE” Jesus Christ, and took his shot.
I pray Jesus grabs you in 2019 and you TAKE YOURS!!!
BTW……I wish I would have taken my shot and got that autograph!
Here’s to an amazing 2019!
PA