Bleary-eyed and shuffling, I approached the water. It was 6:30am and no one in my family was awake yet, but here I was – at our neighborhood pool, ready for lap swimming. What, would you ask, could cause me to do such a thing?
If you read my last post, you will know that a little over a week ago I broke my toe which has prohibited me from my regular 5 day a week endorphin rush of jogging. As much as I need to slow down, I still need to move my body and exercise, so into the pool I descended.
While I grew up on a lake and even learned to slalom ski at the age of about 10, lane swimming in a pool is not something I am very familiar with. I have learned quickly over the last 7 days that there is really only one major rule for this: STAY IN YOUR LANE!
O.K. There’s more to it than that, of course. My eldest daughter and her best friend, who are in their first year on swim team, were quick to tell me on my first attempt at lap swimming that “you look like you are doggy paddling” and “You need to keep your head under water.”
I got some goggles and after several 30 minute sessions, at least I look like I know what I am doing. Sort of. But even if my form and technique are horrible, no one is going to reprimand me if I just stay in my lane.
Staying in Your Lane
This week I also went to a homeschooling practicum where a friend in our co-op gave a short devotional on the last day that was a great reminder. She shared how easily it is as a mom to compare herself to other moms who seem to have it “perfectly together” or have the “perfect life.”
She confessed that this ungodly comparison reveals jealousy, envy, and discontent in her own heart which steals from her the joy that she could have in just accepting the life that she has been given as a gift by God.
She also shared a story from the Bible in John 21. Jesus has been raised from the dead and appears to his disciples on the beach after they have been fishing. After denying Christ three times, Peter is reconciled to his master and friend in a powerful conversation.
Jesus asks Peter three times (perhaps one for each act of denial) “Do you love me?” Peter always responds in the affirmative. Jesus gives him one clear directive: “Feed my sheep.” He also gives him some prophetic insight into his future death as a martyr for Christ.
Christ basically tells him “This is what I have called you to do and this is how you will suffer and die for me.” Interestingly enough, after hearing clearly from Christ Himself what he has been called to do personally, Peter turns his attention elsewhere in comparison as John walks by.
Here’s how the conversation progresses: “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
What About Him?!
It’s tempting for all of us, even when we have clarity about what God is requiring of us in our current season of life, to let our eyes drift from Jesus and onto the person beside or behind us and whine or question, “Lord..what about him? What about her?”
Jesus says the same thing to us that He said that day to Peter: “What is that to you?! You follow Me!” Basically, it doesn’t matter. It’s not your business. Your business, your call, if you will accept it, is to follow Me. Period.
Do you find yourself slowly drifting into other people’s lanes? Have your eyes gotten off of Christ and onto those around you? Do you find yourself struggling with jealousy or discontent, caught in a comparison trap?
It’s never too late to take Christ’s advice. He’s beckoning you, He’s calling me from the edge of the pool – “Don’t worry about them! Stay in your lane! Follow me!” We are called to run our own race – not someone else’s.
