Just A Thought

 I couldn’t tell you the make, model, or year, but I can tell you it had seen better days and it was about to make my day memorable.  I am guessing it was a Ford pickup built in the 1950s. I think it had once been a beautiful green color, but it was now primarily the color of rust. I know it was a standard four speed that had been used to herd cattle, navigate Montana prairies, and haul a lot more than it was designed to carry. I remember it was sufficiently dented and was missing parts. The floor carpet was long gone, and barbed wire, pliers, and leather gloves were stuffed behind the seat. And, when I had ridden in it, with my uncle, to check fences, we were always accompanied by his dog. 

This jalopy was the perfect vehicle to survive my first attempt at driving. The truck and everyone nearby were fairly safe, because I was too small to give that workhorse its worst treatment, and we were in the middle of a field. I was probably nine or ten - way too young to drive in the city - and my dad would have never encouraged me to do what my uncle was helping me do. 

I sat on the front edge of the seat, straining to see over the dashboard and reach the clutch and break all at the same time. My job was to just let out the clutch and steer straight ahead. I was getting my first opportunity to drive. Truth be told, the only reason I was driving was because all the older people were needed to drive the combine and hay binder, or to hoist and stack sixty-pound bales onto the back of the truck and trailer.  My task was to, at someone’s command, take my foot off the brake and slowly let out the clutch. I was instructed not to push the gas pedal. All I had to do was steer down the row in between hay bales until someone hollered for me to stop. I just needed to remember to push the clutch all the way to the floor before applying the brake. 

It probably was not a memorable day for the rest of the crew, but the day my uncle let me drive that pickup was a big day for me. I had been given an opportunity. I felt trusted; like someone believed in me. I felt some pressure not to mess up, but I also got a taste of being part of something important. It felt like it does when God gives us a chance to be a part of what He is doing. We sometimes feel like we are too small or inexperienced, but He just smiles and encourages us to give it a shot. He gives us an opportunity to be a part of something big and eternal, and He loves it when we do the same for our fellow man.

It is sobering to think that God trusted a dozen men with evangelizing the whole world. These men had not been long in training, but they were big of heart. As Jesus left the earth, He told His disciples and followers to go to Jerusalem and wait for His power. Five hundred of them had an opportunity to be a part of the initial outpouring of His Spirit, on the day of Pentecost. One hundred twenty of them took Him up on the offer. They changed their world. You have the life-changing opportunity to join them!

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, January 27, 2023

 It was a tragedy, and probably completely avoidable. On Friday afternoon, August 26, 2020, a man hiking in Grand Canyon National Park fell approximately 200 feet to his death. As people heard this news release from the National Park Service, I am sure their hearts went out to the man’s family and friends. He was only 44 years old. Immediately, the question arises: “What could have been done to keep this kind of thing from happening?”

As more of the story was revealed, it became clear that the victim fell because he had ventured off the designated trail. He accidentally fell from rim west of the Bright Angel Point Trail, located on the North Rim of the park, because he didn’t feel the need to stick to the trail. The Grand Canyon National Park rangers who were called for rescue efforts found the man's body about 200 feet below the rim and determined he would not have fallen if he had kept to the trail, which the park service spent millions to create and maintain.

One source reported that, over the years, 180 people have died, falling into the Grand Canyon. Knowing that close to five million tourists will visit each year, The Park Service spends millions of dollars to try to keep people safe. To get a sense for how much money is spent, we can note that in 2017 the park announced it was short 300 million dollars in repair money. Throughout the years the Park Service has spent thousands of manhours and millions of dollars building and maintaining safe trails and secure lookout points. They were built for the benefit of hikers like this man. He did not pay for the trail, except through taxes. His life would have probably been spared if he had just stuck to the path someone else thoughtfully provided. 

God went to a lot of trouble to lay out some trails for His creation. When mankind holds to those trails and safety features, families, communities, and nations prosper. But human nature seems to always insist on leaving the trails. In doing so, we forfeit everything that was painstakingly provided for our benefit.

Here are four examples of some beneficial safety features God has given for us who are hiking through the Grand Canyon of life:

1.    The benefit day of rest and reflection: In Mark 2:27 Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” God said we should take a day off every week. Man turned it into a heavy burden. Few of us truly take a day of rest each week. Even fewer enjoy the benefit of making it the Lord’s Day.

2.    The benefit of marriage: God says, be faithful to one partner. Many scientific studies have proven people are happier and live longer when they take this path. Others have proven that children are blessed when their parents choose this path. But, if we insist on selfishness and unfaithfulness… if we play the field… we will forfeit the love and trust we could enjoy. Our children will also be cheated. 

3.    The benefit of honesty: God says don’t take what is not ours. He says not to lie. But some say, “I better get what I can and let other people fend for themselves,” thereby forfeiting the joy of giving and the peace that comes from contentment and a clear conscience.

4.    The benefit of wisdom: The commandment “Honor you father and mother,” is a safety feature designed to bless us and future generations. As our society has violated this principle, our culture has sunk into an avalanche of things like violence, rebellion, and mass murder. 

People are blessed when they take full advantage of all the benefits God built into His creation. When we can recognize the trail and guardrails as gifts, we can embrace them and enjoy the benefits. 

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, January 20, 2023