“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25

“EH!” Was the word of the day for me. Said quietly, and to myself, it marked my mistake or failure to ‘KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE!’ It’s painting time at the McCay house, and that means pulling out old tricks that haven’t been used in a while. Like any habit, painting straight lines comes with rudimentary practice and habit. It’s been a while since I painted.

Being 2023, I thought technology might have caught up! So I went to the Paint Store and asked them for an ‘Automatic Line Brush!” When the technician told me it was back by the ‘left- handed smoke shifter,’ I knew I was on my own! Painting straight lines is something humans still have to do by hand. In other words, it’s an acquired skill that comes with time.

Years ago I painted for a living. The ‘Old Man’ gave me some tips to help me get better and faster at it. The best tip being, “watch where you’re going… NOT where you’ve been!” Since it’s tempting for me to look back to see how I’m doing. But doing so actually CAUSES my hand to a wobble. Then, when my focus shifts, the ‘the straight line’ I want, is NOT what I get!

The concept of ‘watching where I’m going and not where I’ve been’ is not a new one. In fact… it’s Biblical! The Old Testament verse came out of the Book of Proverbs, which dates back to King Solomon, King David’s son, who wrote them about 3000 years ago! In other words… the advice is VERY old! Only Solomon wasn’t talking about painting. He was pontificating LIFE!

Sailors and Pioneers have used that advice centuries before Google Maps. You lay a compass heading, look for a spot far in the distance, then aim straight toward it. Once there, you do it again… until you’ve arrived! When men failed at getting to God, Jesus came here and clearly stated… place and keep your eyes on ME! I AM THE WAY! When I do THAT, HE clearly works!

It’s just plain human to look back! But “everybody does it,” is not an acceptable excuse! Painting has reminded me of a very big truth I had forgotten. So I’m working on my ‘looking ahead only’ skills. How about YOU? Are YOU walking in His Truth and looking ahead only at Him?