While driving down a country road recently, I came across this Stop Sign. I was so intrigued by the look of it, that I quickly grabbed my phone and snapped a picture. I had a two hour drive ahead of me after viewing this, but I just could not get the thought out of my head, that this would make a great Blog entry.
To most, they would probably just see the stop sign and stop. Then drive on through and not give it a second thought. Most days that is me, as I am driving along with a million things on my mind. Not this day however. I was so paying attention to my surroundings, that I knew there was something different about this particular stop sign.
First, I found it interesting that this was in the middle of the road, and not on the traditional right side of the road by an Intersection.
Second, I found it odd that this particular sign was one-sided and not double-sided. The traffic coming towards me did not have to stop, only me going my direction.
Third, it was on wheels, which indicated some form of portability. Most traffic signs that I have seen, have been permanently affixed by the state or local road departments.
I fully realize that sometimes a stop sign on the side of the road is just a stop sign. I know that not everything has symbolism or is placed there to teach us a deep theological lesson. However, I could not shake the feeling that The Lord was trying to whisper a lesson to me in regards to this symbolic road sign that served a purpose on the road that day.
How many of you are going down the road of life, and all of a sudden there is a road sign that is either warning you to Yield (Read my prior Blog) or Stop? Things tend to blindside us in life. Some of you might be confronted with issues dealing with your Marriage, Finances, Sickness of Loved Ones, etc... LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES! When you are looking for things to be a certain way, and then out of the clear blue your life is turned upside down, then maybe you have had a stop sign placed in your life. The natural instinct is to panic or fret. I find comfort in the following verse in the Bible:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for
it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
Sometimes it is not just a permanent life altering course that stops us in our tracks when we least expect it, but rather a lesson that we are to learn for that moment. Parenting and Marriage are very much this way for me. I have been Married for almost 18 years, and a parent for 15. Every day, I am finding a temporary stop sign rolled out into the road of my life, prompting me to stop and evaluate how I am treating others around me. A marriage between a husband and wife, and being a parent to a son or a daughter is the most life shaping event that can occur in a person's life, if they are open to Growth. If they are not perceptive to growth, then they will selfishly just blow past that temporary stop sign, and disregard it as folly, and that it couldn't apply to them. Just like that sign was facing in one direction; you might be faced with a challege / learning experience at this stage of your life that others might not be experiencing. I am careful to lay out blanket personal experiences here, as this varies greatly for each person. I encounter growing and learning experiences in my family, that others just might not encounter (and vice versa). Either way, as a Christian, I realize that I have to look more like Christ everyday:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
II Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Sometimes things are temporarily brought to our attention, when they haven't been there before. Recently, I have been feeling very overloaded by my Travel Schedule, Church Commitments, Sports Events, etc... I had a temporary road sign rolled out in my life, that hasn't been there for a while. Notice I hinted that this road sign has presented itself to me prior. Several years ago I had the same road sign rolled out into my path, when I was super busy in life. What I have had to realize is that just because I am feeling that particular way, does not mean that my wife and children are at the same time. Everybody goes through different phases and stages in their growth in life. Not everybody learns through wisdom, but many choose the path of foolishness, and therefore do not grow. Just like that sign was portable; do not shy away from sharing with another pilgrim on this road of life what you learned from your experience along the way. I ALWAYS recommend sharing about your experience, rather than telling them that this is the way that they have to do something. Remember, that God may be rolling what appears to be the same stop sign out in their life, but in actuality it has a totally different meaning and interpretation for their life.
So my friends evaluate your life. Is there a temporary stop sign that has been rolled out in your life that seems to be halting you to a lesson to be learned? If so, please take heed and evaluate what the lesson is to be learned, and apply it to your life. Wisdom is so much stronger than foolishness. How can you grow today?
As always, I welcome your comment to this Blog entry...
To most, they would probably just see the stop sign and stop. Then drive on through and not give it a second thought. Most days that is me, as I am driving along with a million things on my mind. Not this day however. I was so paying attention to my surroundings, that I knew there was something different about this particular stop sign.
First, I found it interesting that this was in the middle of the road, and not on the traditional right side of the road by an Intersection.
Second, I found it odd that this particular sign was one-sided and not double-sided. The traffic coming towards me did not have to stop, only me going my direction.
Third, it was on wheels, which indicated some form of portability. Most traffic signs that I have seen, have been permanently affixed by the state or local road departments.
I fully realize that sometimes a stop sign on the side of the road is just a stop sign. I know that not everything has symbolism or is placed there to teach us a deep theological lesson. However, I could not shake the feeling that The Lord was trying to whisper a lesson to me in regards to this symbolic road sign that served a purpose on the road that day.
How many of you are going down the road of life, and all of a sudden there is a road sign that is either warning you to Yield (Read my prior Blog) or Stop? Things tend to blindside us in life. Some of you might be confronted with issues dealing with your Marriage, Finances, Sickness of Loved Ones, etc... LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES! When you are looking for things to be a certain way, and then out of the clear blue your life is turned upside down, then maybe you have had a stop sign placed in your life. The natural instinct is to panic or fret. I find comfort in the following verse in the Bible:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for
it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
Sometimes it is not just a permanent life altering course that stops us in our tracks when we least expect it, but rather a lesson that we are to learn for that moment. Parenting and Marriage are very much this way for me. I have been Married for almost 18 years, and a parent for 15. Every day, I am finding a temporary stop sign rolled out into the road of my life, prompting me to stop and evaluate how I am treating others around me. A marriage between a husband and wife, and being a parent to a son or a daughter is the most life shaping event that can occur in a person's life, if they are open to Growth. If they are not perceptive to growth, then they will selfishly just blow past that temporary stop sign, and disregard it as folly, and that it couldn't apply to them. Just like that sign was facing in one direction; you might be faced with a challege / learning experience at this stage of your life that others might not be experiencing. I am careful to lay out blanket personal experiences here, as this varies greatly for each person. I encounter growing and learning experiences in my family, that others just might not encounter (and vice versa). Either way, as a Christian, I realize that I have to look more like Christ everyday:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
II Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Sometimes things are temporarily brought to our attention, when they haven't been there before. Recently, I have been feeling very overloaded by my Travel Schedule, Church Commitments, Sports Events, etc... I had a temporary road sign rolled out in my life, that hasn't been there for a while. Notice I hinted that this road sign has presented itself to me prior. Several years ago I had the same road sign rolled out into my path, when I was super busy in life. What I have had to realize is that just because I am feeling that particular way, does not mean that my wife and children are at the same time. Everybody goes through different phases and stages in their growth in life. Not everybody learns through wisdom, but many choose the path of foolishness, and therefore do not grow. Just like that sign was portable; do not shy away from sharing with another pilgrim on this road of life what you learned from your experience along the way. I ALWAYS recommend sharing about your experience, rather than telling them that this is the way that they have to do something. Remember, that God may be rolling what appears to be the same stop sign out in their life, but in actuality it has a totally different meaning and interpretation for their life.
So my friends evaluate your life. Is there a temporary stop sign that has been rolled out in your life that seems to be halting you to a lesson to be learned? If so, please take heed and evaluate what the lesson is to be learned, and apply it to your life. Wisdom is so much stronger than foolishness. How can you grow today?
As always, I welcome your comment to this Blog entry...
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