Staying in My Lane

When I was in Basic Training in the Army, one of the major goals for a trainee was weapons qualifying. When our company was lined up in a long row on the firing range, the drill sergeant would call out, “Ready on the range!” And after a brief pause, added in a commanding voice, “Watch your lane!” I had guys to my left and my right. But it was critical that I focus my attention on the targets that came up in my lane, not what was happening around me.

I’ve been working outdoors with a camera for more than a half-century. During that time, I’ve known quite a few nature photographers and seen the work of lots of others whom I never met. A great many of these individuals, compared to me, had finer and more expensive equipment, far greater knowledge, more extensive experience, and were more widely traveled. A large percentage of these folks also seem to have greater opportunities to show and market their work.

In this context, I have been encouraged by words Max Lucado penned in his insightful book, Glory Days:

Stay in your own lane. Run your own race.
Nothing good happens when you compare and compete.
God does not judge you according to the talents of others.
He judges you according to yours.
His yardstick for measuring faithfulness
is how faithful you are with your own gifts.
You are not responsible for the nature of your gift.
But you are responsible for how you use it.

Several years ago, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes put out a paperback entitled WisdomWalks Sports by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. Among the numerous motivational adages in this volume were these words:

There are three “O”s in life:
Opportunities, Obedience, and Outcomes

The authors pointed out I am responsible for only one of those – Obedience. God is responsible for the other two.

Don’t compare yourself with others.
Each of you must take responsibility for
doing the creative best you can with your own life.

– Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message)