Guardrails and the Gift of Paying Attention
Last summer I was visiting family in Colorado. One afternoon, while my sister ran into her office, I decided to hijack her Jeep and do a little adventuring on my own. I’m always on the lookout for some good mountain photo opportunities.
My exploring got a little carried away, and I realized I had driven all the way to the Million Dollar Highway. It’s a stunning, winding road that climbs up and down the mountains toward Silverton. I’d been on it before as a passenger, but driving it myself was a whole different experience. Harrowing. Nerve-wracking. Especially for someone who doesn’t regularly drive through mountains with steep drop-offs and blind curves.
I considered turning back, but it had been a difficult year and I decided I needed to challenge myself. So, with a tight grip on the wheel, I kept reminding myself to breathe. The views were incredible, but appreciating them required more focus than I could spare. I earned that delicious ice cream cone in Silverton, but of course, I did have to drive all the way back. I have never been more grateful for guardrails.
Scripture often compares our life with God to traveling a road. Much of the journey can feel slow or uneventful, sometimes even boring. It’s exciting to go off-roading. Exploring new paths or chasing scenic routes is fantastic. But before you head out, there’s one thing that really matters.
You have to know how to drive.
Driving in a quiet neighborhood is different from driving on a highway. Add mud, snow, ice, or heavy rain, and everything changes. Each road comes with its own risks and joys, as long as you know how to handle it.
Getting distracted can come pretty easily too. We’re looking at the scenery or belting out our favorite songs, and before we know it, we’ve drifted. The same thing happens in our walk with God. Distraction leads to drifting, and drifting can put us dangerously close to the edge.
“Stay between the telephone poles”, was the phrase my dad used over and over when teaching us how to drive. It may seem like silly advice, but we knew what he meant. “Keep the wheel steady, and pay attention to where you are on the road.”
Last week, Pastor Jay took us to Proverbs 29:18: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves.” Vision isn’t about having a perfect plan for the road ahead. It’s about paying attention. God’s Word can become our guardrail, keeping us between the telephone poles when distractions pull at the wheel.
When we stop seeing what God is doing, we don’t usually rebel. We drift. And God, in His kindness, gives us guardrails to keep us on the road. We meet Him in Scripture, receive revelation through prayer, and walk alongside others in community. These practices don’t limit the journey. They keep us in our lane and away from the cliffs, even when our attention starts to wander.
Reflection Questions:
• Where have I noticed my attention drifting lately in my walk with God?
• What distractions tend to pull my focus off the road when life feels routine or overwhelming?
• What would it look like this week to “stay between the telephone poles” spiritually?
