Making Tracks

DateLine (8/16/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

A few weeks back I decided that it was time for Kyle to learn how to operate the lawnmower. After all, he’s 14 years old, soon to be 15. Now you may be thinking that at his age it was past time for him to be supporting the family in this fashion, but it’s not your “normal” lawnmower. You see it’s a 54” 23 HP zero-turn commercial mower. There is no steering wheel; one “drives” the mower via two levers. With both levers pressed forward one glides across the lawn at a clip that will bounce you from the seat if the terrain is bumpy. With the levers in full opposing direction the mower will literally turn in its tracks, spinning like a dog chasing its tail. But it was time.

I went over the fundamentals of operation and turned it over to him. The first few trips across the lawn were not a pretty site. Whereas I pride myself in the ability to mow a perfectly straight line, Kyle’s lines looked like crooked cow paths as he learned to maneuver the temperamental machine. I waved him down and pointed out that he should be focusing on the leftover tracks leftover from the previous mowing a week earlier. After a few more trips he became more comfortable with the machine and matured in his ability to follow in the old tracks. There was promise.

As I reflected upon the series of events I realized that whether we realize it or not we are all making tracks. My grass cutting adventures serves to illustrate an important life principal. When I was mowing the lawn the week before I did not imagine that I was investing in the future. I had not considered that my present actions would have value to someone who would follow behind me. I was not conscious of the impact of my routine task in someone’s future. My son would be using my tracks to guide his actions the following week. My tracks would be a guidepost to the future.

Not only are we working out our own salvation in this life we are also leaving tracks for those who follow. Perhaps one of our greatest contributions in life is the example that we set for others; a gift with eternal consequence. We can relieve the load of the next generation by our legacy; we can advance the kingdom by encouraging others. The generations that follow will start their journey with confidence when they contemplate the history of faith laid down in the lives of acquaintances. My prayer is that others will deem my tracks valuable as a trail to the Father. I pray for the confidence to say with Paul, “brothers,. . live according to the pattern we gave you.” Phil 3:17.