The Cross Road

Have you ever been driving along with your windows rolled down, the radio blasting, jamming to some tunes and auditioning for an imaginary gig on the American Idol? That's an awesome feeling. I love those days when life is jumping with explosive energy at the exact same time I am. Everything is in order. Life is good. Seize the moment. Then you look around and realize that while you were deep into your fictitious performance, you took a wrong turn and now you are lost.

Welcome to my world. I get lost all the time. It's a simple fact. My mind wanders. I admit it. I am in my own little world when I drive, or should I say, when I'm jamming. I'm not a bad driver. I have automatic reactions to traffic laws, speeding cars and rambunctious children playing in the street. I recognize traffic lights and little old ladies in the crosswalks. However, I do get lost. Consequently, as a defense mechanism due to this lack of focus, I heavily rely on routine. I frequent familiar places and deliberately drive the same route everyday. Park in the same spots. You might say that I point my car in the right direction and flip on the switch to the auto pilot. With this rational, I can afford to indulge myself with my typically high-energy music. A fair compromise in my opinion. Mama is happy. Nevertheless, this system is not without problems and at times, my well thought out course of procedure has been known to fail.

One day while I was cruising, there was a subtle change in my groove and you might say I zigged when I should have zagged. I ended up on the wrong highway going totally in the wrong direction without even so much as a blip on my internal radar screen. There were no 'WRONG ROAD' warning signs screaming at me to turn back. Eventually, though, I began to notice minor changes in the roadside scenery.

"Wow. When did that get put in.", I wondered. "Gee, I never noticed that before" I thought.

Then it hit me. Oh, duh! I was lost, again. An all too familiar scenario. However, I had a well-rehearsed recovery plan. Immediately, I began to look for familiar road signs and markers. I focused. Fortunately, it was not too long before I began to see the guideposts and quickly figured out where I was and how to get home. I found the crossroad. That crossroad led me back home.

Are you on the right road, spiritually speaking? Or, are you be-bopping down the beaten path of life, not attending to anything in particular, enjoying the scenery. Careful not to rock the boat. Just cruising along, cloaked in the false security of a preprogrammed life. Are you concentrating on your eternal destination or ignoring the signs all around? Without full diligence and focus, we are apt to take wrong turns, make wrong decisions. Get turned around a bit. Get distracted.

Everyone loses his or her way from time to time and it can be intensely unsettling, and even, devastating. Nevertheless, the way of reconciliation and hope has been provided. The escape from our personal rationales and precision timing lies directly ahead of us. The ultimate Cross-road. The road of the Cross that intersects the core of our lives, bringing salvation, healing, and eternal life.

Biblical Reference:

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Bible Gateway

Standing at the Water's Edge

Jump in....the water's fine. You've heard that expression many times. The people already in the pool are really enjoying themselves, splashing each other and creating waves. Screeching with delight. Then there, at the water's edge, stands the nervous ninny, teetering on the brink of decision. To jump? Or not to jump? Jump? Not to jump? Is it fear of the unknown? Or maybe, it is actually the fear of what is known.

In the beginning a novice swimmer may be hesitant, but learns by experience that the water is great fun. With a gentle splash or so, a little encouragement from friends and a lot of courage they soon become adventurous spirits happily diving in over their heads without considering realities. The only thing they have to rely on is their buoyancy in the water. No sides to cling to. No floating devices. Just themselves and faith in the essence that surrounds them. For these fearless ones, the very thought of jumping into a cool clear pool or lake fills them with great anticipation and excitement. Fear is not an issue. But for some, there is nothing but fear.

A dry swimmer knows for a fact that the water is going to be much colder than his own personal 98.6 degrees. He is sure, beyond a shadow of doubt, the sudden change in temperature will be a most uncomfortable shock to his system, if even for a moment. Dipping his big toe in first confirms his suspicions. He knows that he will sink if he jumps in. He knows water will go over his head. He will have to close his eyes. Hold his breath. There will be no bottom to touch. He will feel helpless and floundering. He wraps his towel around himself even tighter and turns a deaf ear to wet onlookers, who encourage him to jump in. The nervous ninny fears the facts and perceives them as an undesirable truth. His fear of the known will deprive him of ever experiencing joy of the unknown. Fear of self-depravation is the issue.

How many of you are nervous ninnies standing at the water's edge merely dipping your big toe into spiritual truths, tempting the water yet avoiding the real issue? Are you making like a swimmer but never getting wet, turning a deaf ear to those trying to encourage your leap? Do you take what little spiritual knowledge you have and use it to comfort yourself? Are you standing there teetering on the brink of decision, wanting more but fearful of what you think you know? To jump? Or not to jump? Jump? Not to jump? Are you going to continue standing there in submission to self-centered fear and in the end lose the greater joy? Or will you take that leap into the great unknown, where faith is always the issue.

Biblical references: Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD ."

Bible Gateway: Elijah 18:21 "Elijah went before the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him'." Bible Gateway