There is a race set before us, and each of us must run it. Like a trail through the woods, it has a clear starting point, marked boundaries, and a finish line we cannot see from where we stand. The great danger is not that we mean to go the wrong way, but that we drift off course without ever noticing. Good intentions, we are reminded, are like a rocking chair: they feel like movement but take us nowhere. Direction, not intention, determines destination. One small degree off course today becomes a vast distance from where we hoped to be tomorrow.

We are, at heart, like sheep, prone to wandering and too easily pulled along by the paths others are walking. But there is hope, because we have a Shepherd, and he is the best one we could ever ask for. To run straight, we must add real direction to our good intentions, pay close attention to where our daily choices are leading, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, and he will direct your paths. Let us run, and let us run straight.

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