Following the Pathway
Ski Apache Mountain Road
I began to drive up the mountain toward the ski resort outside Ruidoso, New Mexico, with my family in the car with me. Soon the traffic slowed as the two-lane road winded up the steep slopes. Snow covered the ground on either side and patches of melting ice poured out onto the highway.
The view from above was grandiose as beautiful vistas of snow-capped mountains filled with spruce and fir stood against the backdrop of a clear, blue sky. At least, that's what everyone said…
Meanwhile, I had my eyes focused squarely on the road ahead, white-knuckling the steering wheel as I negotiated switchback curves with sheer drop-offs and little margin for error.
The kids would exclaim from the back seat, "Wow! Look how far you'd fall if you ran off the road right here!" Sweat beaded on my forehead. "Be quiet! Don't talk about that right now! Can't you see I'm trying to drive?" I quipped.
That'd work for a couple of minutes, until I rounded the next hairpin turn and a whole new view burst before their eyes. "I wonder if anyone has ever driven off the road up here?" came from the back seat. "Stop talking!" I exclaimed.
About two-thirds of the way up the twelve mile drive, I noticed a Jeep Cherokee in my side-view mirror, passing the cars behind me. I clenched the steering wheel even harder as the Jeep passed by me, nearly scraping my side-view mirror on the narrow road.
I marveled at his audacity and stupidity as the Jeep continued around the cars in front of me, even passing the front car in the middle of a switchback curve with no concern for oncoming traffic. Had there been a car coming down the mountain at the same time, there would have been a horrific accident which could have involved numerous vehicles and caused a great deal of calamity for many…just so this person could get to the ski resort a couple of minutes sooner.
Proverbs 2:1-11; My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
May we seek the wisdom of God and His ways with as much focus as if we were driving ourselves and our loved ones up a treacherous mountain road that requires all of our attention trained on following the right pathway. May we not take foolhardy risks that could end up bringing disaster to many, but may we follow with diligence the pathway that the Lord has laid out before us, looking to Him for guidance every step of the way.
