Fix Our Eyes On Jesus
Crushed vertebrae, a crushed foot, and over 3 1/2 months in a wheelchair. My leg was in a cast, my body was in a shell, and I was in a lot of pain. I was content to lie still from the end of August to the middle of December. I love to climb mountains, especially in the snow. According to my journal, the previous winter I had summitted 83 times. That summer I summited Mount Rainier. I mention this because as I spent those months immobile and with my foot in the air, I was determined to climb again. My foot damage was severe.
All of my metatarsals were torn away from my toes and ankle. The damage was so great that before operating on my foot my surgeon said to me, "You have to understand that I can't fix this. I will do the best I can and you will get what you get." As I sat still, the leaves on the trees turned to yellow and the autumn colors exploded outside my window. Eventually, those same leaves fell to the ground and were blanketed by a layer of snow.
Though my foot was held together by nine large titanium screws, I was determined to walk again and then to climb again. Before a goal can be achieved in your life, it must first be established in your mind. Climbing again was a huge goal, but not my greatest goal. My greatest goal was and is to continue to preach the gospel until Christ returns or takes me home.
How do I establish a goal to persevere, to endure, to continue on to victory? I take the Apostle Paul's advice- "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God." Be blessed! -Pastor Brad
Written on November 27, 2025
Posted in Daily Devotions