A long time ago I worked as a student missionary in western NSW in a town called Lake Cargelligo. I was there to look after a small company of believers while supporting myself driving farm machinery. When the wheat was sown and there was no more work to be done on the farm until harvest, I got a job filling in for the hospital gardener, while he took his three months long service leave. In the debrief, he taught me about the general running of the hospital garden. It was here that I learnt about keeping roses.

And so, my three-month stint as a gardener began. There was one routine that happened every day. The local Doctor, who was also the hospital resident doctor (it was a small town), used to walk up to the hospital everyday about 9am. He would bring his Red Setter dog with him and he would leave the dog with me in the garden. The dog would follow me around and bounce in front of the wheelbarrow and bark at the wheel.
On one occasion I noticed that he was chasing a butterfly across the hospital’s front lawn. I stood and watched. It was then that I noticed something curious. He was not chasing the butterfly at all but the shadow on the ground. As I reflected on that, I realized that this is a parable of life. Most people seem to be chasing the shadows – the things that will pass away – when the reality is above.

The Bible tells us, that amidst the trials of life, we must keep out sight fixed on the goal. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (NLT). Again Paul says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT.