Against the Wind

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Yesterday was my second day of cycle training to get back into shape and preparation for riding 350 miles in four days in August. I went south from Katy (TX) on a country road. Normally, this time of year, the wind is coming from the south. I really wasn't paying much attention, but I was feeling really good and thinking that I was in much better shape than I thought. My plan was to go 12 miles, and I started thinking maybe I will go 15, which would be another 1 1/2 miles south. Then it dawned on me, the reason things may be going so smooth is the wind may be at my back. I decided to turn around at the six mile mark, and sure enough, I was now into a head wind. The wind wasn't severe, but it was enough resistance to make the six miles back to my house challenging. When the wind was at my back, I was thinking that I was in much better shape than I really am. The wind has a way of bringing out the truth.

Life is like that. Sometimes everything is going well. The wind is at our back. Then the wind changes directions or we change, and the wind is in our face. Sometimes it is a steady breeze, other times it is hurricane force and we must do everything we can to stay on our feet.

The good news is that the resistance produces endurance which leads us to maturity. It may take every bit of faith we can muster to keep moving forward, but the payoff is that our lives will "become complete, lacking in nothing."

"May the wind be at your back," is a familiar Irish saying and something we would wish for ourselves and others. However, when you face the wind, and do not quit, the joy when you reach your destination is much greater.