***The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26
The air was crisp and cold as the bright winter sun reflected off of the countryside. With camera in hand, I was determined to get some photos for the day. My favorite shots of nature, did not come easily though. I had to work to get them, trekking through the snow to get to the rolling hills, creeks, and snow-covered trees. I even managed to get some wildlife, ducks taking off mid-flight from a small pond near our house. They were, for sure, the most beautiful pictures of the day...however they were not the most unusual. That picture came as I headed up a walkway, toward the lake. When I reached the top of the small hill, I immediately noticed something unusual.
Just off of the beach, was a sign. This was no ordinary sign. It's length spanned all the way across the beachfront. It was written in giant block letters, in the snow, across a large flat area on top of the lake. It said, “THIN ICE.” Staring at the sign, I noticed that just a few feet away from the edge of it, the water was not frozen. I began to think about the person whose job it was to go out and give that warning to the rest of us. How frightened were they?
Then I thought about my life. As a child of GOD, how many times have I been called to leave a sign for others who might be in danger. Not just a physical danger but a spiritual danger.
And how many times have I thought I was safe because the terrain I was on was flat? How many times have I myself, walked out on thin ice and been unaware of it? How many times have I been unaware of the dangers that lie ahead, around and beneath me? And How many times has GOD left me a sign directing me where not to tread....And how many times have I regretted not listening to that still small voice inside of me...Then I began to think about all of humanity…
When given a choice between the hills and flat lands how often do we try and avoid the hill covered roads and head for the flat places. We think by choosing them, it will somehow be easier and we will avoid all danger. But the truth is, sometimes the flattest roads are the most dangerous...
Remember, the truest beauty can come from the journey it takes to get through to those hill filled places, just like the photos I took that day.
So whether you find yourself standing on a snow covered hillside or on top of a half frozen lake, know that JESUS is there. HE ALONE knows all that lies below, above, beside, behind, and ahead of you. When you put your faith and trust in HIM, HE will never fail to give you every sign you will need to follow HIM and avoid what can come in the flat places...thin ice!
***Scripture taken from New American Standard version of the Bible
Read more articles by Melinda Burchfield or search for articles on the same topic or others.
