Down the Middle
Down the Middle
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. (Eccles. 4:9–10)
The Right Aim
Imagine a bowling lane where each pin at the far end represents one of your responsibilities. Provide income, love your wife, spend quality time with your kids, please your boss, coach a soccer team—you get the picture. Rolling a strike and meeting all of those obligations is hard enough. Now throw in an illness, job loss, depression, family struggle, or something else, and it can feel like trying to bowl left-handed while being poked, pulled, and prodded.
Avoiding the Gutters
As followers of Christ, we have bumpers available to keep the ball from going in the gutter. These bumpers come in the form of God’s Word, prayer, wise counsel, and our own spiritual discipline. We need to be diligent to make sure our bumpers are in place, that they stay in place, and that any flimsy areas are reinforced.
One of the best ways to ensure your protection against gutter balls is through seeking the help of other men who can assist in keeping your life rolling straight down the middle. Ask God to direct you to one or two other men you can start meeting with each week. Be honest with one another, share your weaknesses, and enlist their help in living right before God. It could keep you from going in the gutter.
Bottom Line
Meeting regularly with other guys who can hold us accountable can keep us from being bowled over by life’s challenges.