A Straight Row | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: A Straight Row | Previous Challenge Entry
By charlotte Bower
01/22/06
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“Can I try? Can I please?” I begged my Dad. Today was gardening day and we were getting ready to mark the rows. It was a point of pride for the farmers to have straight even rows in their gardens and fields. My Dad was no exception. This process impressed and mystified us as children.
For marking the garden my Dad had designed what looked like a giant rake with four teeth about three feet apart and two handles. He would put the handles over his shoulder and drag the tool as he walked across the field. The weight of the tool made lines across the garden. The first set of rows were the key. If they were straight the whole field was. His rows were always straight.
“You can have one try and then we need to get to work.” He positioned the rake and held the handles for me to get under. I grabbed the handles and started off. Dad walked beside me. Every few feet I looked his way to see if I could tell how he thought I was doing. I got to the end of the row and looked back. My row seemed to curve all over the side of the garden. “I don’t get it” I grumbled in disappointment..
Dad began to re-position the tool. “Walk with me and I’ll explain. You start by fixing your eyes on a goal. I am looking at that post straight over there. Never let your eyes leave it for a fraction of a second.” He was walking while he talked.and then he chuckled.. “ That reminds me of a story. A farmer went out to plant his field. He started his tractor and got his equipment positioned. He then looked over at the hill to pick a goal and started off. He reached the other side and as he turned the tractor around he glanced back. His row was not straight. He looked up at the hill in bewilderment. Now that he was closer to the hill he saw his problem. His eyes had been fixed on a cow and she had moved across the hillside”.
We had reached the other side of the garden and as we admired the four straight rows my Dad said, “ Life is like that too. We need to have a fixed goal. The Bible says to fix our eyes on Jesus. As long as we keep our eyes on him our life will go straight.”
That little incident in our garden some fifty years ago was a life lesson for me. Each day must be initiated by focusing on Jesus. Each project and adventure launched with his approval. Only after I have fixed my eyes must I “press toward the goal”.

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