I have so many Internet accounts! And each has a different password. That’s for safety, you know. At least that’s what they tell us from the “offices” of Internet-land.
The problem for me, and others I’ve discovered, is that it is just plain hard to remember all those passwords. And personal identification numbers – don’t want to leave those out! Every account needs a different number or series of numbers and letters and we are not supposed to write them down. Huh? How are we supposed to remember them if we don’t jot them down somewhere?
I have a boatload of scribbles all over the place that have these passwords on them. I don’t think I have anything to fear from an Internet robber though. I can’t remember what the passwords are for when I run across them, and nine times out of 10 I have attempted to log on to whatever site and been denied. Then the process begins again. Send an email to myself to allow myself to create a new password for that account that I use so incredibly often that I can’t remember how to access it.
I’m not overly sure they should put technology into some of our hands!
I have one password for one site that I doubt I will ever change. I use the account fairly often so I remember the password; and it is not what I intended it to be so it sticks even better in my aging grey matter.
The password is supposed to read “roadsigns” in a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Note the words “supposed to.” I don’t know if it was a Freudian slip or a God-intended “mistake” or just my fingers not finding enough characters, but my password really reads “roadsins.” Unfortunate leaving out that “g.” Totally messes up my point.
The idea came to me as I wasted time staring at a photo I took several years ago of the sun rising and burning off a dense fog that hung over a farmers’ field. A stand of trees is in the right corner and in the foreground is a highway guardrail. When I took the photo God impressed upon me the importance of guardrails and road signs in our lives. So looking at the photo, deep in thought about what my new password should be, I thought, “Oh, road signs! Good reminder!”
Yeah. So is “road sins.”
Whenever I type that password I am reminded of the sins I commit each day on the road through my life. Not occasional sins; daily sins. It’s something we all do. That little lie to your wife – “That dress looks great, honey” – when telling the truth is right and what she really wants. Or, “the check’s in the mail,” said as you write it out and slip it in the envelope.
Marginal, I know. Sin, no doubt.
Sometimes as I travel and try to avoid the “road sins” I think I am more aptly identified with a pinball pinging off the guardrails and careening all over the road with no sense of direction. And though my photo clearly shows a rising sun illuminating the start of day, I find many days there may be little to no light on the road I am on – a definite detour, intended or not. There is light to illuminate the road signs.
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).
It’s so neat that the Word is our light, our lamp and our sword. We have the proper tools to use as we try to follow the road signs while trying not to commit road sins. You always need the right tools when your car breaks down. The Bible is certainly the right tool when your life breaks down.
God is the right One to post your road signs, the One who knows where you need guard rails. And He can take care of those nasty potholes caused by road sins. Potholes do major damage and are so deceptive – could be a quarter inch deep or a foot deep. You really don’t know until you drive through it. Life’s potholes caused by road sins are the same - you never know how deep it goes until you step into one. You could just get your shoes a little wet, but you could also fall in and be up to your eyeballs in messy, dirty muck.
So here’s the lesson for this week – when you take to the streets watch for road signs that will direct you away from road sins. Should be able to keep clean that way; and you just might be able to assist a broken down fellow traveler.
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