“Moving the Bar”

There is a dance I used to hear about, might still be around, called the “limbo.”  As the music plays those who were in line would bend backward and move under the bar without knocking it down.  When each one in line finished their turn, the bar would be lowered and the scenario would be repeated until no one could get under the bar without knocking it over.  Strange enough, the winner was the one who could go the lowest.

There is an athletic event that operates on the opposite principle.  It’s called the “high jump.”  The participant gets a running start and tries to jump over the bar.  Each time they are successful, the bar is moved higher until no one can jump over.  The winner is the one who jumps the highest.  The object of both excercises is to eliminate participants until only one remains. 

My question is, “Which way are your moving the bar?”  Often via the pressures of life the temptation is to shrink our personal world and lower the bar, and shrink the vision,  instead of remaining focused and continuing to raise the bar.  Keep in mind that very few people, if any, practice the “limbo.”  However, those who participate in the “high jump” practice on a regular basis.  The high jump seems to take more effort, and skill, to succeed as the bar is raised instead of lowered.

What about life?  So many take the path of least resistance and join the crowd in the “limbo” instead of being the lone participant in the high jump.  Raising the bar will bring a personal discovery of qualities that rest deep within.  One must find inner strength, and draw from untapped reserves, to continually raise the bar.

Each day the “bar” in everyone’s life is moving.  Which way is your personal bar moving?  Someone once said, “It is only when you are pursued that you become swift.”  The resistance you feel right now is making you stronger, better, more effective in your God assignment.  Your spiritual and emotional conditioning is getting stronger.  Be a finisher and finish strong.  I am blessed.