We moved back to Utah in 2014. We also had two huskies. It was only natural to purchase a dog sled now play in the “World’s Greatest Snow.” The sled I purchased was a kit that you put together yourself. I bought the basic sled. It didn’t have all the bells and whistles. It didn’t even have a brake. However, it was enough to get us started.
My oldest son and I took a morning and ventured up one of the nearby canyons. During the winter the canyon road is closed and people use it mostly for snowshoeing or cross country skiing. There was one rule that I insisted we follow: Don’t let go of the sled. One of us at all times needed to be holding onto the sled. The last thing I wanted to do that morning was track down two huskies hitched to a sled.
We slowly made our way up the canyon. We would allow the dogs to pull us on the flat parts, but we hiked next to the sled for most of the uphill journey. With just the two of them, uphill was a lot of work for the dogs. After a few hours of hiking through the soft snow it was time to turn around and head back to the car. Only instead of walking next to the sled, we could allow the huskies to pull as we were now going downhill. Noah sat in the basket of the sled while I stood behind on the runners.
The majestic scenery, time with my son, the dogs doing what they love, the whole adventure was magnificent! Everything was perfect. And then it wasn’t. The soft snow that we had walked up the canyon in had turned to ice. The sled didn’t cut through the snow, it slid on top of the slow. And remember the part about not having brake?
I did what I could to drag my feet in order to slow us down, but it was no use. Everything happened so quickly. I lost control and was tossed off the back. I rolled and looked up to see Noah in the basket. Then the sled started to wobble and the then it tipped on to it’s side. Noah held onto the sled and was being dragged behind, serving as a break. Eventually the sled came to a stop!
I ran down the hill shouting, “Noah! Noah! Are you okay?!
He was fine. The dogs were too, they were probably wondering why we stopped. I said to Noah, “You saved the day! You stopped the dogs, they would have still been running down the canyon had it not been for you!”
I will never forget Noah’s calm, matter of fact reply, “Dad, you never let go of the sled.”
What are you holding onto? Good times or bad, celebration or anguish, what are you holding on to? What are you paying attention to the most, what is your anchor?
Here are five things to hold on to in 2019:
- Hold to Wisdom.
There are a lot of things that seem good. There are a lot of things that even feel good. But are they wise? Wisdom, wise choices, brings life and refreshment for the soul.“She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” (Proverbs 3:18, ESV) - Hold fast to what is Good.
Sometimes when I am surfing the internet my heart aches. There is so much brokenness. Gossip, slander, backbiting, bullying, it seems that people don’t even try to hide it anymore. Broken people hurt people. It’s a natural result of the sin. However, I don’t want to focus on it, and I certainly don’t want to contribute to it. I want to live my life in a way that is life giving. I want to hold fast to what is good.”Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–22, ESV) - Hold to True Life.
We live in a consumer world. From a Biblical worldview success isn’t measured by what you have, success is measured by what you give. Giving is true life.”They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18–19, ESV) - Hold to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Don’t forget who you are in the eyes of Jesus! Never forget that you are son or daughter of the living and he is preparing an inheritance for you. You have been chosen, adopted into the family of God, forgiven by his grace. Hold on to your call!”Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:12–16, ESV) - Hold on to Jesus, he is an anchor to the soul.
Jesus. It’s always been about Jesus, it will always be about Jesus. It’s all about Jesus. He is an anchor to the soul. Never let go of Jesus.“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19–20, ESV)
However, if I am honest, I know I will waiver. I will let go of the sled. As the old hymn says: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”
I grateful that we have a savior that never lets go!
- Jesus is holds all things together.
When your world is falling apart, when nothing seems to make sense, rest peacefully knowing that Jesus is holding all things together. We might not see it, that’s why it’s faith. Jesus is working, he never slumbers, he is reigning as King of an everlasting Kingdom and he is working all things together for your sanctification and His glory.“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17, ESV) - Jesus is holding on to you.
If you have ever felt that you have wandered too far. If you have ever felt that you just can’t do it, have confidence. It is not about you, it is about what Jesus is doing in you!“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
What are the things you are holding onto in this new year?
And yes, I bought a brake for the sled. We also got another husky!
Thank you Mike!! God bless your day.
Thanks Stephanie! I hope you had a wonderful New Years!