Eye on the Prize by Catherine Weiskopf

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).
My twelve-year-old petite daughter Holly is the gutsy goalie for her select soccer team. Recently during a game, a player from the other team had a break away and ran with the ball at my daughter full speed. Holly ran out of the goalie box and threw herself on the ball as the girl pulled back her foot to boot the ball. The player from the other team, not being able to stop in time, ran over the top of Holly using Holly’s leg as a step stool. Blue, black and red painted her leg as a nasty bruise the size of a foot print formed.
It’s not human nature to throw yourself into a crash. When something flies towards our eyes, we blink. When someone sneezes near us, we turn the other way. When a car crosses the center line on a highway, we slow down and move over. Protecting ourselves is how we stay alive. It’s natural. It’s instinctive but it’s not always in line with God’s plan.  Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3 NIV) (I’m not advocating dangerous living just dangerous loving.) 
So how does a goalie, like my daughter, intentionally throw herself into a collision?
By keeping her eye on the ball!
Likewise, we can throw ourselves into situations God calls us into by keeping our eyes on Him. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul, who was thrown into prison, beaten, and shipwrecked, wasn’t worried about the pain that might come his way. He threw himself heartily into every situation God called him to.
The more we try to protect ourselves, the more we can’t play the game of life. Imagine a bubble-wrapped goalie trying to move fast enough to capture a ball. It’s not going to happen.
When I am hurt by friends I bubble wrap myself in quietness, and distance.  When too many friends move away, when I know I’ll never see an aging cousin again, I momentarily want to remove myself from the pain of life. But God instructs us to love, keep our eyes on the prize, and yes, to take off the bubble wrap.
So just like my daughter dives for a ball with little concern for her safety, we must throw ourselves into God’s call of love with our eyes only on the prize.