by
Carla McDougal
I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war again the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12
It was August 1984, Fred and I drove from Bakersfield, CA to Red River, NM in a 1979 blue Ford pickup without an air conditioner. Just think of this romantic scene... the 120 degree Mojave desert wind blowing my hair, newly weds sitting side-by-side, the aroma of sweat in the air. The adventure of sleeping at the luxurious roadside park because we were saving every penny for our honeymoon destination - Red River. Oh, the blessing of creating memories to last a lifetime.
Of course there are always the "newly wed" spats that arise, especially when you are hot and tired! A day into our journey I recall becoming a bit upset because he was making all the decision. So, he said, "Ok, you map our route from Flagstaff, AZ to Red River, NM. With excitement and a sense of power I decided the course of action. In my twenty-year old naive mind I chose the shortest route on map. Little did I know this way would take us across an Indian Reservation and end up looking down a cliff onto a wooden bridge crossing The Royal Gorge. Hot, sweaty, and grumpy we gasped as we approached the top of the cliff! Our minds started spinning out of control. Our gas tank indicated low fuel, so there was no turning back. Moving forward we located the path leading down the gorge. We prayed every inch of the way. This narrow, winding dirt road caused us to focus our heart on trusting the Lord. When we finally arrived, teenage Indians were jumping off the bridge. As we moved stealthily over the wooden overpass they stuck their heads in our window and yelled... "Woo Woo Woo Woo" in an Indian chant voice. For a moment I thought I was in a television movie.
Oh, with a sigh and relief we made it without harm. Looking up the cliff we realized only God could have successfully guided us down this Road Less Traveled! We thanked Him for taking care of us and helping us through this experience.
I often think of this real life experience. I had the choice of which route to take and I chose the shortcut. I didn't take into account all the obstacles, circumstances and terrain. What a lesson learned!
This resembles a spiritual lesson as well. Are you trying to take shortcuts in your Christian life? Is God calling you one way and you are taking the shortcut? What does He have for you on His path for your life? Don't miss diving into His Word, it is the only book of directions we need in life.
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