Don't Turn to the Right or the Left

Watch the path of your feet

And all your ways will be established.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil.  - Proverbs 4:26-2

This week Benjamin ran in the State Cross Country Meet at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.  It is hard to believe, but Benjamin is in his senior year in high school.  This was his last cross country meet.  He still has indoor and outdoor track seasons left to run, but now cross country season is behind him.

He's working very hard now on college scholarship applications, writing papers for school, taking college courses while still in high school, and doing his chores, of course.  He's a busy dude, no doubt.  We're proud of him.

And it got me to thinking, regardless if you are a senior in high school or a senior citizen, hard work and focus are critical to success.  Many people start off strong and leave the field behind only to "run out of gas" and be overtaken by competitors.  Many simply lose direction and wander off the path.  Many simply get discouraged and quit running the race. 

King Solomon wrote Proverbs and the one atop this blog post.  He asked for, and was given, great wisdom.  The principles he wrote about remind me of Benjamin running his races, but they apply to our lives.  Run away from evil.  Be aware of where your feet are leading you.  Don't stray from the course.  Good words to live by!

It rained during the entire race and was incredibly muddy and cold, but Benjamin pressed through to the finish line.  Benjamin did a fantastic job in his race and as a senior, he was allowed to choose the restaurant where his team would eat in Natchitoches once the race was complete. 

There was a reward for even non-runners.  Tricia and Benjamin brought home a box of Natchitoches meat pies for supper!

Image Credit

Yum!  We were ALL winners!