The Cows Did It
Many country roads were first charted by cows. The path they beat out with their countless trips to the water hole and grazing area provided an easy answer for engineers. Only a little work had to be done for a wagon and then a T-Model Ford to run along the dirt trail.
That the roads twisted and circled, sometimes almost seeming to go backwards, was not an issue. Speed of man with a wagon and the first powered machines was not challenged by winding roads.
Advancing technology provided more powerful engines, better shocks and springs, and greater speed. Roads had to be re-engineered. Straight lines replaced curves. Hills were graded down and valleys filled up. Instead of winding over a mountain, in some cases tunnels were dug through a mountain or installed under a river or body of water.
Where ten miles an hour would have once taxed the efficiency of a country road, speed limits may suggest that 70 MPH is fast enough. In truth, if there were no other cars on the road, and if the law allowed, a person could drive 100 MPH and not be challenged by a curve!
Man decided that he could improve on the surveying plan of cows. For example, the by-pass around Lynchburg, Virginia, is a marvelous road charted by man. It crosses over a mountain and river, saving about 15 minutes of trip time.
As roads were re-engineered it became necessary to abandon certain sections. Abandoned roads, or roads
no long primary, often left service stations and grocery stores without customers. In many cases what was once a thriving business became a survival operations, often with not enough profit to keep premises painted and looking kept.
Just in case you are wondering, I am not an engineer. The intent of this article is not to educate you about cows and roads or modern engineering and construction of super highways. My hope is to draw your interest to a larger issue.
It occurs to me that too many persons may have allowed cows to create the paths of their lives. There is too much winding and twisting, trying to get to higher elevation without any struggle. Taking the easy way. Just ambling along. Getting there, but not on time. Getting there, but not having a plan for getting there. Just taking the path that someone else has taken. Following along. Not considering that many of the curves in the road could be taken out with a little effort. Not considering that with a little help some valleys could be filled in. Not considering that going straight up the hill could take less energy and save lots of time.
The Year 2007 is here. What will you do this year that will be different? What will produce better results? What will result in a more dedicated to Christ life? What will help you to produce more results for Christ and His Church? What will bring you to the end of 2007 with a sweet knowledge that you stand upon a higher mountain, see further, and have strong confidence that you have served Our Lord well? What will be your decision about serving in His Church, serving your brothers and sisters?
Get out the Map-maker. Get into reading the Word of God. Cherish time spent meditating upon the printed love letter of God to you. In the Law Books you will find definite ways to please God, i.e., things to do and things not to do. In the Prophecy Books you will find promises of God to you. In the Books of Kings you will read experientially of how men did and did not obey and serve the Lord. In the Wisdom Books you will learn practical lessons for daily life. In the New Testament you will read about Jesus, His love for you, His forgiveness of your sins, His call for repentance, and His promises to return.
Time in the Word will help you to straighten out crooked paths, stop going around in circles, and just following the crowd. You will find Jesus to be personal. You will find that the Holy Spirit will help you to develop a road plan for your life that will be more rewarding than you ever dreamed.
Please don’t let the cows chart the paths of your life.
Best of Jesus to you in 2007,
Pastor Bare