Capture the Flag

Remember the game we used to play into the wee hours of the night at summer camps & weekend youth retreats? We gave our all in that game -- doing all we possibly could -- in hopes of being victorious. At the end of the game we were exhausted. In a good way. We hadn't reserved our energy but had given it all to capture the flag.

In recent years, I've seen another version of that game - a grown up version in relationships (often marriages) where red flags are seen & ignored year after year. They are never captured. Those reds flags fade as their pursuit is ignored... until they turn into white flags of surrender. White flags of giving up. White flags signaling "game over."

I wonder if effort had been given to capturing those red flags... would they be gone? Would they never have been replaced by white flags? Would we be stronger from the pursuit of those red flags? Would we be encouraged from winning that challenge & feel free to look ahead to the future?

Really? Are there ANY of us who can't list a handful of seemingly great marriages that are no longer marriages? Some have ended in abandonment or divorce. Others are still "marriages" but the partners seem to be trudging along lifelessly. Many marriages have violently exploded into flames only to smolder awhile before exploding again. The world filled with walking wounded - just getting by. Children (young & old) trying to make sense of what happened and wondering what's in store for them in years to come. Adults left asking the question, "Where did we go wrong?"

It's often easier to ignore the red flags. But, aren't we called to accept & tackle the challenges? Shouldn't we surround ourselves with friends who watch us & encourage us to do the hard work. The Bible says we are cheered on by those seen & unseen.  

"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."

Hebrews 12:1 

Take a look at your relationships today. Are there issues that have been ignored that really should be addressed? Have you been not mentioning a needed change in someone in the hopes that they'll not mention an area in your life that needs to change?

I'm challenging married couples to... take a big breath... and go capture the flag!