Tales from the Showroom, the Road, and the Junkyard

Despite its consistent number one ranking as the most densely-populated in the nation, the state of New Jersey, where I live, has rural areas.  A lot of farming is still done.  Loads of cranberries, blueberries, tomatoes and corn, among other crops.  We even have the largest scrub pine forest in the union.  Plenty of cows around.  Horses, too.  Some sheep, as well, but not too many.

Yet because most of the state is so built up, there are many folks who don’t know about such oddities as sheep wandering away from the path and becoming lost within sight of home.

However, being on the road provides a great illustration of what the psalmist meant when he wrote,

He guides in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Almost every major roadway in the state (if not most of the country) has a rumble strip.  On the outside chance you don’t know what I’m talking about, try driving off the roadway onto the shoulder and you’ll discover how it got its name.  Except I wouldn’t call it a rumble.  It is more like a giant joy buzzer that can vibrate hands... teeth... and brains.  The experience is enough to get just about anyone’s attention.  Which is why it was invented.  If you happen to be inattentive or dozing at the wheel, the rumble strip is guaranteed to wake you up and get you back into the lane.

That is the meaning of David’s psalm about the shepherd guiding the sheep to the path they should take.  Sheep are notoriously absent-minded professors, in the sense that they are so engrossed in what they’re doing at the time that they wander off, oblivious to the fact that they’ve gone astray.  It takes the watchful prodding of a shepherd to get the sheep out of the brush and back onto the correct path.

Sheep aren’t the only creatures who end up as strays.  So do members of the human race.  Including you.  And me.  God says, “Here is the road I have prepared for you.  It leads to life.  Use it.”  Unfortunately, since you have a lot of choices laid in front of you every day, you tend to get easily sidetracked... preoccupied... and distracted.

You don’t notice how far you’ve wandered from the road.  Until a prodding comes from heaven.  Call it God’s shepherd rod and staff.  Call it a divine rumble strip.  Call it what you will, but recognize it for what it is:  your wakeup call.  So you can get back on the road.  Headed in the right direction.