Street Closed

But the Lord God gave the man this warning: “You may eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the Tree of Conscience—for its fruit will open your eyes to make you aware of right and wrong, good and bad. Genesis 2: 16-17 


The serpent was the craftiest of all the creatures the lord God had made. So the serpent came to the woman. “Really?” he asked. “None of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn’t eat any if it?” “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. …” “That’s a lie!” the serpent hissed. “you’ll not die”… The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! …So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband, and he ate it too. Genesis 3: 1-6


This past week my very busy street has been closed for needed repairs. There are five signs telling drivers of the closed street, yet vehicle after vehicle goes rushing by, going all the way to the closed blockades and then slowly turning around and rushing back to the main drag. I keep wondering, what were they thinking during this? Did they think the closed signs did not pertain to them, or the signs were wrong and the street was really open? Did they remember a few years ago when the street was closed because of flooding, and someone moved one of the barricades and people began driving through the dangerous flooded waters? The street has been closed for four days now, yet multiple cars at a time drive by and then shortly thereafter they drive back. Do people think that something has changed day by day, and now they can get through?  


I felt a devotion coming on when I observed the above. What in life do we continue with despite the warning signs? My first impulse was to think about addictions, how people dying from alcoholism ignore the mandates of their doctors, their counselors, their family, and friends. Daily I see on the news accidents caused by drunk drivers who have already had their licenses revoked and are still driving. Do they think this is not really a problem or that this does not apply to them?


Granted, the results of not following a detour are not the same as a dangerous addiction, but I think the misguided thinking and behavior may be the same.  What signs do we tend to ignore, and then regret what happens later?  


Prayer: Heavenly Father, you continually show your love for us as we dash around in our daily lives. Thank you for forgiving us when we struggle to forgive ourselves and others. Help us to better use the knowledge you have provided to us so we make good choices and live our lives praising you and walking in your ways. Amen.



Nancy Hall