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Reach for the Sky

Reach for the Sky

Reach for the sky--Devil's Tower with the sky aboveReach for the sky has two meanings.

  1. A robber tells people to hold their hands in the air by saying, “Reach for the sky.”
  2. We tell people to set high goals by saying, “Reach for the sky.”

We will focus on the second meaning.

When we look at the sky, it seems so far away.

  • The clouds float high above us.
  • Birds fly into it.
  • Children pretend to touch it.
  • Yet, how can we reach it?

When we look at goals, they may also appear far away.

  • Some goals seem greater than our ability.
  • Other people succeed while we fail.
  • We sometimes do nothing more than dream of what we want to do.

Far away does not mean impossible. 

In spite of challenges, we can reach the sky. In spite of challenges, we can reach our goals. Yet, how do we do that?

We reach goals, like most of life, one step at a time. We may never get as far as we hope. Yet, we will get closer than if we never tried. Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If we try, we may surprise ourselves. In addition to reaching our goals, we could go far beyond them.

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies” (Psalm 36:5 NIV).

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Get Our Feet Wet

Get Our Feet Wet

Get Our Feet Wet: ocean washing against a beachIf we want to learn to swim, we have to get our feet wet.

A friend’s grandmother taught her to fear water. Therefore, my friend never learned to swim.

My parents had me playing in water when I was a baby. I never feared water, but I did obey safety rules.

My sister, brother, and I enjoyed water games for hours. We:

  • Stood on our hands
  • Floated on our backs
  • Jumped and splashed
  • Looked for fish

I wanted my friend to know the freedom of such a day. First, she had to get her feet wet.

When we try anything new, we must get our feet wet.

We have to take those first steps. Once we get our feet wet, we can move on to deeper water. We can add new skills.

Yet, fear often keeps us from trying.

  • What if I fail?
  • Will I look silly?
  • What will people think?

The truth is:

  • We all fail sometimes.
  • We all look silly sometimes.
  • People don’t notice us as much as we think they do.
  • If we make mistakes, we can always go back to the drawing board.

As an old song says, step into the water.

Get your feet wet. Then, one step at a time, experience the fun of learning something new.

“‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said” (Matthew 14:28-29 NIV).

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Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Fear often keeps us from trying anything new. We think, “If I don’t try, I won’t fail.” By not trying, however, we miss some of the best that life has to offer. If we haven’t ventured into the unknown, we stay safe but stagnant.

Consider the child rejected by his parents. As an adult, he must choose if he will trust people. If he trusts, he could be rejected again … or he might enjoy close relationships. If he never trusts, he will never know true love.

Most of us fear public speaking. We may have great voices and brilliant ideas. But they do no good if we never share them. If we make a mistake, that’s okay. Everyone else makes them too.

A woman’s grandmother told her, “You can’t go near water until you learn how to swim.” As a result, she couldn’t swim and panicked when near deep water. Only when she faced her fears could she swim. She began by standing in a small amount of water. One small step at a time, she ventured farther. As a middle-aged woman, she finally learned the fun of playing in a pool.

What do you fear? Is the harm real or only in your mind?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

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