Wednesday, October 3, 2018 – Beacon

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

We leave Prince George in the early morning hours and it’s cold. Relatively. It’s far from the -25C that we’ve experienced here in the past, but it’s hovering around 0C. It feels cold to we who have yet to experience the first frost of the season.

With a venti Starbucks in hand, a dog in my lap, and my husband at the wheel of our Escape, we set out for home.

And before long it gets interesting.

Reduced visibility, snow falling and compact snow on the road, transport trucks on the wrong side of the road chaining up, vehicles unable to make hills, cars in ditches. I estimate near to a foot of snow has fallen. I’m  thinking about snowploughs when Gerry remarks: “I don’t think we’be seen a snowplough for an hour.”

And, as if his words conjured it, suddenly through the falling snow I catch a glimpse of something ahead. We’re third or fourth in a little convoy that queues up behind it. Following a snowplough is a wise thing to do in a snowstorm so, with it as our beacon, we carry on.

We make our way past transport trucks pulled off to the side of the road chaining up, flashing lights on police vehicles doing their best to prevent a serious accident, and tow trucks rescuing the unfortunate.

We follow, in faith, the flashing red lights of the snowplough as it  clears the way on a road where we don’t know if we’re near to the edge or in the centre of it. We follow it’s lead, trusting it will guide us to safety.

And I think this is an illustration of how I make my way through this life. With my eyes fixed on Jesus, I step carefully through the treacherous patches. With my focus on Him, I am stronger to withstand distractions that have potential to steer me off course and into the ditch.

When I can’t see clearly, Jesus can.

When it seems like I’ve lost my bearings, I am closer to the path I need to be on than I am when I wander blind. The Beacon is there, all I have to do is follow.

And so, on this morning when I’m glad to be come and happy to have no out-of-town trips planned for a good long time, I sit with intentions, and my eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of my faith.

My Beacon.

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I’m a writer, reader, and creative. I thought by now I’d have things figured out, but I keep coming up with more questions. I think that’s okay. I’m here most mornings pondering ordinary things and the thin places where faith intersects.
6 comments
  1. First, I love the fact that you got the moose sign in this photo! Second, I’m not looking forward to the s-word. We did have heavy flurries today, but it was not cold enough to stick. Now, it’s sunny. But it’s coming, people, the snow is coming!

    1. Ha! Catching that sign in the image (shot from a moving vehicle) was one of those “happy accidents”. (Remember Bob Ross, the painter?!)

  2. Snow! It was a bit of a shock to see the photo. But I know winter is out there, somewhere, and will be coming my way soon. So far, I’m still doing Fall clean-up!

    1. It was certainly a shock to drive through it too! Like you, I’m still saturated in fall…and happy for it to linger as long as possible.

  3. Lovely analogy. Glad you got home safely.
    Blessings
    Janis

    1. Thank you, Janis.

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