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“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4 ESV)

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Stay Out of the Trees!

by Macy Johnson

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”
(Psalm 73:23 NIV)

Sarah Young wrote, “You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today.”

During a ski trip in 1998 I read the fourth chapter of Proverbs in my Bible and penciled a note in the margin next to verse 25 – “Stay out of the trees!”

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.”
(Proverbs 4:25 NIV)

Boundaries are essential on ski resort runs. I learned to snow ski in the Austrian Alps. Water-skiing in my early teens behind my grandmother’s 10-horse-power motorboat persuaded me to imagine I could easily master snow slopes. Was I wrong! Skiing on snow requires different techniques from those practiced on water skis behind a boat.

One winter afternoon I skied with my Austrian friend’s father. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I slipped past him over a snow-covered ledge into the trees. I precariously hung onto a branch until he rescued me.

When our children were young, my husband and I took them on snow-ski vacations during spring break. They gradually progressed from the bunny slopes in Taos, New Mexico to the intermediate blues and diamond blacks in Park City and Powder Mountain, Utah. We enjoyed navigating the snowy paths together, always observing fixed, tree-lined boundaries.

God created borders in this life for our own good. Every day has a new set of limitations I should observe. If I push through or step over them, I will inevitably slide out from under His protective umbrella. I must be aware of what my restrictions are and work diligently to stay within them.

I will discipline myself to remain within the boundaries that God has laid out for me. I hope you will too!

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