Winter arrived in southern Indiana in dramatic fashion this past weekend! Like most other folk, I found myself questioning the veracity of the forecasts coming from the host of meteorologists. In a scene closely mirroring the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, the “experts” have been prone to sensationalize the forecast in recent years. This has incited multiple runs on local grocery stores for what apparently constitutes the staples of the American culinary experience, bread and milk. In most instances, the predicted snowstorms failed to materialize, forcing many families to endure weeks of bread and milk sandwiches. As the American proverb says, however, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.” Winter Storm Harper was the proverbial nut. It bore down hard across southern and central Indiana, resulting in several inches of snow, strong winds, and dangerous snow drifts.
Due in large part to our skepticism of sensational forecasts, my family and I decided to make the hour-long drive to Indianapolis to watch the Indiana Pacers in spite of the Winter Weather Warning that had been issued. As we drove north, it began snowing lightly, but the roads were perfectly clear. Being that we were already a couple of hours into the warning, it appeared that meteorologists had once again missed the call. Upon reaching Indianapolis, however, the weather began to shift dramatically. The heavens opened and the snow began to fall in sheets. Winter Storm Harper had arrived!
I just need someone to show me the way.
When the game ended, we exited Bankers Life Fieldhouse to discover a Winter Wonderland, or wasteland, depending on how you choose to see it. We cleared off our vehicle and began the slow slog southward to Seymour. There were several inches of snow covering the roads by that time making it very difficult to know where the road began and ended, and impossible to know where the lane lines were located. While contemplating how best to proceed, I found myself thinking, “I just need someone to show me the way.” Just then a semitruck passed me heading in the same direction. The wind from the truck sent snow flying in every direction creating a whiteout. Initially, it appeared that things had gone from bad to worse. But, as the snow cleared, there in the deep snow were perfectly placed tire tracks. The driver of that big truck had blazed a trail for me to follow all the way home. As I slowly guided my truck into the tire tracks left by the semi, it struck me that this is exactly what we are to do as followers of Christ.
John the Baptist is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. He is the archetype of the trailblazers we are called to be. In John 1:23 John lays out his mission in life. He says, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.” It was his job to help people turn away from patterns of living that would ultimately lead to their destruction and turn to Jesus that they might find their way home.
Every FOLLOWER of Jesus has been tasked with the responsibility of serving as His ambassadors and evangelists to the world.
The storms of life have a way of obscuring and obstructing our paths. We often struggle to know which way to go and how to properly proceed with our lives to get to where we need to be. Every follower of Jesus has been tasked with the responsibility of serving as His ambassadors and evangelists to the world. We are called to clear a path so people can make their way home. In both word and deed, we should be opening up avenues for people to make their way into right relationship with their heavenly Father. We need to help people understand and accept the work and person of Jesus Christ. There are so many all around us who are lost and alone in the blizzards of our cultural climate. They need someone who is willing to blaze a trail and clear a path to help them make their way home.
