The Fish Net
Boston Presbyterian Church
Fall 2013
Dear Friends,
	This past summer Susan and I spent a day at the CNE and no, we do not go for the rides or the junk food!  Upon our arrival we planned the day, taking in as many of the shows as possible.  We enjoyed them all, ranging from the hypnotist to the “Superdogs” but the best by far was “The Flying Wallendas.”

	The Flying Wallendas consist of a father and three of his adult children and are the uncle and cousins of Nick Wallenda, famed for crossing Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon on a tight rope.  Like their famous relative, the Flying Wallendas are tight rope artists and their act on the high wire is both entertaining and terrifying all at the same time.  Balancing on the wire high above the pavement with no tether or safety net below, the members of the group walked, rode bicycles, carried one another, sat on a chair and one even lay down on the wire!  Truthfully, watching them, I don’t remember the last time I have felt so entertained, awed and absolutely terrified!

	After the show, the members of the troop handed out post cards of themselves which they gladly autographed, but what I found really interesting was the message printed on the back.  It revealed the secret of their act.  One of the secrets to balancing on the wire, they tell us, is to keep their attention totally focused on a particular fixed point at the end of the rope.  Don’t look at the other performers, the wire, the ground or anything else; if you want to keep your balance, concentrate on the point that will not move.  The message then goes on to give a testimony; that Jesus is their focal point that keeps their lives balanced when not on the wire.  This is so true.

	In a sense, life at times may well seem to be like a high wire balancing act with no safety net down below.  We may well wonder how we are even going to get through it all, but we can.  We can because we do have a focal point, the one who has gone before us preparing the way, and that of course is Jesus.  Perhaps no one was more aware of this than the unknown author of the letter to the Hebrews.  As he wrote to a sad, discouraged group of Christians who were at the point of giving up altogether:

“As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us.  So then,
Let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way and the sin that
Holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race
That lies before us.  Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus on whom our
Faith depends from beginning to end.”

God bless, 
Shawn