Walk, Don't Walk!

Yesterday Glen and I were crossing the thoroughfare in front of our local shopping mall. In the past, I had no hesitation to step out into the street with the sure conviction that the motorists had no desire to strike down a pedestrian. While I never put myself in danger, I was not timid in the least regarding traffic. That was until our recent vacation.

Image by bhermans via Flickr

In Boston, I was thrilled to notice signs posted in the intersections, in clear sight of the motorists, which reminded them it was Massachusetts law for them to stop for pedestrians. There were no such signs in New York City.

The pedestrians in NYC take their "Walk, Don't Walk" signs seriously and for good reason. As soon as the red hand appears on the sign, New Yorkers appear glued to the sidewalk. This is because as soon as the traffic light turns to green, the motorist in NYC are zooming past apparently without regard to whomever may have stumbled into the crosswalk of the intersection. Only in the villages and back streets would one dare to cross without the wisdom of the "Walk, Don't Walk" sign.

As Glen and I reflexively stood on the curb of our little thoroughfare and watched the mild amount of traffic, I thought how like our spiritual life the traffic was. We know there are dangers out there: distractions and deceptions, things that pull at our flesh and tug at our souls in ways that do not glorify the Lord or edify the brethren.

We are always wise to acknowledge the existence of these dangers, to steer clear of their potential impact in our lives and to seek the wisdom and guidance the Lord has put in our lives: His Scriptures and the fellowship of His children. These are our "Walk, Don't Walk" signs. Never should we step out into the dangers, either impervious to the havoc they could wreck on our spiritual lives or imagining that there are no dangers at all.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3: 5-7)

"This is the way, walk ye in it. . ." (Isaiah 30:21)