Cottage Ramps and Wise Ways

Let your eyes look straight ahead;

and fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27

One thing about the terrain around here -- it's not level.  Making your way around means you have to be ready to navigate the rock-solid randomness of the Canadian Shield.  Thank you glaciers.

This makes for stunning landscapes and rugged vistas, as often depicted in the work of The Group of Seven, some of whom frequented our little corner of it all here in Georgian Bay.  But with it comes a great deal of uneven terrain.

Most of us manage it well, building on the most level of the spaces, finding the natural pathways between our cottage and the dock, or between buildings, all of which have been situated in submission to what will not move.

But in many spaces where things are particularly treacherous, ramps are built.

Between our bunkie and the shoreline, in the most direct line of things, we have two ramps.  One is more of an elongated sideways step, and the other is basically a bridge over a deeper crevasse.  As I was getting into and out of the kayak over the two weeks while we were over there, I've wondered if we might not be good to also build a bit of a deck over the particularly jagged formations closest to the water.  Every step down there is tricky!  One misstep and there could be some serious damage.

Regardless, wherever you're going, you want to be watching your step.  

The text quoted above comes to mind.  Giving careful thought to paths and looking straight ahead and all.  It's a matter of wisdom, says the Teacher in Proverbs.  The way can be treacherous if you're not sure footed.  

Of course this metaphor is meant to keep us safe from our own folly.  That's the Bible's term for the opposite of wisdom.  It's not talking about avoiding adventure or never taking risks, both of which are wildly and wonderfully present in the stories of the majority of the folks we read about in the Bible.  And their stories are great.   Personally, I think risk and adventure are just going to be part of the story of anyone following Jesus wholeheartedly.

But when it comes to making big decisions, or considering important options, or weighing out certain investments (financial and otherwise), or even just the repeated practices of our daily lives, we're smart  to build ramps over pitfalls.  Those ramps might be called research, advice, prayer, accountability, lessons from past experience, lessons from others' experience, study, pacing, patience, or any number of straightforward steps we might put in place in order to "be steadfast in all your ways."

And, like the ramps we build at the cottage, the more treacherous the way, the smarter it is to make the path forward more secure.

In all of this I find myself so grateful this morning for 

• the many wise mentors and counselors I have had and still have in my life.  
• the experiences of my life, many painful, that have taught me so much.
• the wealth of good material there is out there to read and ponder and study (so many books, so little time!).
• the beauty and depth of the Word of God to guide and direct and steady my feet.
• the intimate presence of God to walk me through every step of the way.

A beauty day here.

Thursday!

Have a great, sure-footed day!