Back On Track

I am an avid walker and I enjoy walking along many of the pleasant, scenic roads in our little town. Because we live in the mountains, many of the roads that I utilize for my daily trek are quite steep and hilly. My very favorite road and the one that I most often choose to walk on, is the steepest road of all. But before you get the idea that I’m a glutton for punishment or in-training for adventure racing, let me say that the reason this hill is my favorite is because of the beautiful view from the top of it’s summit. It’s a glorious scene with majestic mountain peaks, a deep blue lake, huge puffy clouds and our quaint little town nestled down below.

Another aspect of this steep, one-mile stretch of road is that it is built right into the side of the mountain. Because of this, there is an extensive guardrail structure for the whole one-mile expanse and beyond. And because this mountain road can be so very icy and dangerous during the winter, it’s a good thing that the guardrail is there.

Many times, as I’ve been walking up that hill, I have thought about how that guardrail reminds me of the boundaries found in the word of God. The Lord speaks clearly and distinctly to us through his word telling us plainly what he desires from us as his children. And just like that guardrail is distinctive and obvious in its placement, so are the commands of the Lord. And while some may foolishly think that the commands of the Lord are in place to spoil their fun, God’s directives are in place as a guardrail to keep us safe while we travel this road of life.

All during the frosty winter months when the days are short and the nights are long, that road can be a nightmare to drive on. Some sections of it can stay icy for weeks at a time and there are some locals who won’t even drive on it until it unfreezes. And you can be sure that nobody in they’re right mind would say “that guardrail is really cramping my style, life would be more fun without that unnecessary boundary.” We all recognize that the guardrail is in place for our protection. If the guardrail weren’t in place and a car happened to slide on the ice, the occupants of that car would be in grave danger.

So it is with the word of God! The boundaries of the Lord are meant for our good and our protection. And while its true that it does take some careful navigation and control to stay inside of the boundaries, that’s where the joy, peace and safety is found! Also, I have found that I am free to enjoy the view when I’m not focused on finding ways around the commands of the Lord.

The view is always best when we walk within the safety of the guardrail. Trying to take my daily walk on the six inches of dirt just outside of that guardrail would be an exhausting endeavor, making it difficult at best, to enjoy the majestic scenery. I’d have to do a whole lot of balancing and focusing on each step I was taking, so as not to plummet down that dangerous cliff. And it’s very much like that when we’re just outside of what God has told us to do. We can know what’s right and yet still give into the temptation to walk the edgy gray area, thinking we’re getting away with something. But the only thing that we’re accomplishing with this behavior is to rob ourselves of the enjoyment of the journey.

I remember being a kid and stealing an Oreo from the cookie jar and this is how it usually went: Shhhh – standstill and listen – is she coming? Okay, grab a cookie – now wait - is she coming? Shove the cookie in my mouth as fast as possible - chew, chew, chew, FAST! Is she coming? Get to the kitchen faucet - rinse out my mouth to remove all remnants of the cookie - is she coming??

When I look back at my cookie stealing days I recall them as stressful and not that much fun. There was so much more delight when my mother would call my sisters and I to the kitchen and we would find Oreo’s and milk. What a treat! We weren’t often served sweets in our home, but it sure was special when we were.

Freedom and joy are abundant when we do things God’s way, staying inside the boundaries he has set for our lives – and the good news is; it’s never too late to get back on track!

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Paula Friedrichsen is a conference speaker and the author of "The Man You Always Wanted is The One You Already Have" (Multnomah 2007). She lives with her husband and daughter in Northern California.
© 2008 Paula Friedrichsen - All rights reserved.
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