My drive through the mountains was spectacular!
There were times I’d round a bend and the vision of sun shining on snow capped peaks would take my breath away.
Spring run-off sent streams of water splashing over the sheer rock face beside the road. This give me an intermittent display of tiny waterfalls.
Mountain lakes had their own special beauty, making it difficult at times to keep my attention focused on the road.
In other areas, road crews were blasting sections of the mountain. Most of this was to expand existing roads. Some of it was to keep the current road safe for motorists.
I passed a sign informing me that I was in an avalanche zone and no stopping was permitted. I had no intention of stopping in this danger zone and was pleased when I encountered another sign to say I’d reached the end of the avalanche area.
After passing through a few of these areas, I saw the correlation to my life.
Personally, I have been passing through a metaphorical avalanche zone. My life has been shaken up and has lost the stability I once took for granted. At times it has been tempting to hunker down, uncertain of my ability to move into unknown territory. Who knows what danger may lurk there?
As the road signs reminded me, this is not the time to stop moving forward. If I keep going I will eventually come out on stable ground.
My shake up caused damage and a loss of stability but when I look around, there is still so much beauty to be found.
I don’t know what is around the next corner in my journey. I do know, however, that I won’t discover it by standing still. I am determined to enjoy whatever today has to offer and move with purpose into tomorrow.
Tag: danger
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Avalanche Zone
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Running From Fear
Nature has many lessons to teach us. I heard an interesting story about fear and survival in the wild.When a zebra is grazing and hears the roar of a lion, it runs away from the dangerous sound. This decision often proves to be fatal.
You see, the male lion roars from behind the prey while the lioness, who is the hunter, waits ahead. In its fear reaction, the zebra runs directly into the path of the lioness and is caught.
Fear can also cause us to run into danger instead of away from it. No matter how hard we try, it isn’t possible to outrun our fear. The best option may be to face the fear head-on. We may find that it is nothing more dangerous than the roar in our mind.
God knew we would face many fears in our lives. That could be why the most repeated command in the Bible is Fear Not. Over one hundred times the words Fear Not or Do not be afraid are repeated.
We are also told the enemy prowls like a roaring lion. He wants to frighten us so we run into his trap. If we remember to trust in God rather than giving in to our fear we will remain safe.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
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Do You Take Your Own Advice?
Advice comes to us from many sources. It can be written or verbal. There are times when it is helpful and others when it is not appreciated.Recently I saw a sign with extremely helpful advice. It held a warning of danger due to an unstable slope. Heeding this would provide safety from the eroding landscape.
The sign was on a path that overlooked a lake. So much of the hillside had eroded and fallen away that the sign was now in danger of tumbling down to the shore. I pointed this out to my husband as we walked along the beach and said, “The sign looks like it needs to take its own advice.”
This brought to mind the saying Do what I say not as I do. In other words, I expect you to follow my advice but I’m not going to do it myself.
No matter how well intentioned I am, my advice may not be right for someone else. The same holds true for advice that others give me.
There is also the advice that I give myself and then ignore. Following it requires more effort than I am willing to put forth. Sometimes I don’t know what to do. I seem lost and need someone to point me in the right direction.
There is only one that can consistently give me the needed advice. That one is Jesus. He knows the direction he wants me to travel in and the best way to get there. Everything he takes me through is preparing me to live the life that he has planned for me. I may not understand the advice now, but if I have faith the answer will be revealed in his perfect timing.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6 NIV)
