I am a lover of country music and often play it on my car radio as I drive to and from various destinations. A great part of my enjoyment is in listening to the lyrics. They are very down to earth and often about something I can relate to. And for me, the fact that they frequently include God makes them even better.
Some time ago, Alan Jackson was singing a song he wrote about learning to drive and how his father told him to "keep it between the lines." This made me think about the lines painted on Bella Vista streets and highways. I think they are more important than some others for several reasons, especially when driving at night. Many of our roads include hills and curves, and there are few, if any, night lights. Also, deer have a habit of suddenly appearing along the wooded roadsides. All-in-all, the white lines painted along the edges are a gift, and when they are repainted, they stand out as a reminder of what a blessing they are.
The yellow center lines are a good thing because they keep us on our own side of the highway, but they can also cause my heart to speed up when an oncoming automobile is on my side rather than their own. However, life is not perfect and neither are we.
The use of road lines is meant to help us stay on course. They are no different than lots of signs we encounter as we travel about, ones that exist for our own good -- stop, no parking, no left turn, slow down, curve ahead and school crossing signs, to name a few.
As drivers of automobiles, we should know the rules of the road and follow them, keeping safety in mind. Safety behind the wheel refers to both our own safety and that of others, yet how many drivers fail to fasten seat belts, text while driving, go too fast or follow too close? We know we can't control the driving habits of others, but we do have the power of control over our own.
When we're behind the wheel is not the only time we have control over what guidelines we choose to follow.
God has given us guidelines for how to live our lives and freedom of choice in whether we follow them. We have multiple opportunities each day to make the choice to stay between the lines He has set for us. His guidelines can be found in the Bible, in a Sunday morning sermon, in history and in the lives of our Christian friends.
It is my job to follow the road He has laid out for me and to carry His message to others I meet along the way. I pray that I will think of Him as I travel my road of life and treat others as He would want me to. It is my job to stay within the lines God has set for me and to treat others the safest way I can ... with love and with His message.
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Jan Burgess moved to Bella Vista in 1995. She considers each day a gift -- although some are more fun to open than others. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Community on 03/02/2016