Brett’s experience yesterday reminded me of when I used to live in Alaska.  I lived 10 miles from town which translated into a 20 minute drive in good weather.  Sometimes snow would fall the night before church.   Keep in mind that I drove a two-wheel drive van at the time and our house was situated in an area that seemed to be protected from the wind.  I would look outside and think, “Well I can make it to church, it doesn’t look too bad.”  So I would load the kids up in the vehicle and off we would go.   It was usually early enough in the day that the snow plow hadn’t made it by yet and maybe one other vehicle had traversed the road before us.  By the time I got down the road a little ways I would realize that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, but there was no turning back.  Unless I stayed in the tracks of the vehicle that had gone ahead of me I would be stuck in the snow.  It was early enough in the morning that not many others were out on the road and there were no cell phones back then to call someone.    After driving a mile I would arrive to the main road at which point in time it usually got even worse!  The wind would be blowing and causing white outs, but I couldn’t turn around because I had to stay in the tracks of the person who went before me or get stuck in snow too deep for a two-wheel drive vehicle to drive in.   I couldn’t turn back despite the poor driving conditions because if I did I would be off the road entirely.

God sent His son Jesus to go before us and show us the way.  We can choose to follow Him and stay in the tracks of the One who went before us or we can choose to try to go our own way with our limited power and go off the road entirely.

Psalm 119:1-8 The Messgage

1 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. 2 You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. 4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. 5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; 6 Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. 7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. 8 I’m going to do what you tell me to do;