Slow down, you’re in a school zone
“So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.” James 2:17 (TLB)
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
I know that at the beginning of each school year and after holidays, drivers really pay attention to their speeding behaviors in school zones-why?
I don’t know if it’s necessarily the precious lives scurrying around in these zones or is it the amount of the speeding ticket that you incur once you have been found guilty of breaking the speed limit law.
For me, I can honestly say that I do not speed through these zones nor do I drive inattentively, because of our prized children.
Even though I have come through these zones at times screaming and cussing inside until I wanted to get out of my car take my belt off, and allow some of these precious children to wear it on their natural behinds. I don’t, because I’m in a school zone and these little special darlings are still in the stages of learning in what is suppose to be a safe environment.
What other zones, or areas in our lives are we consciously and constantly engage in immediate self checks to make to ensure that we are not out of bounds or breaking the laws and jeopardizing the taking of innocent lives or causing unwanted duress?
Most of our comprehension of respecting life is only applied to areas that are visibly patrolled by that which can be seen obviously with the naked eye.
Reflecting on my mindset while in the school zone this morning, I thought about being in church and what crossed my mind was the sermon from Pastor Marcus Davidson this past Sunday.
“Now run and tell that”, was how he put emphasis on his message from the Book of Micah 6:8, which reads: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
All of this was relevant to me because our actions are usually based on what particular zone we are in.
Unfortunately for some of us we are totally zoned out, literally and figuratively out of our ever loving minds, without a doubt we have chosen to be One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Thank God we don’t have to be in that confused, zoned out, or totally discombobulated zone by ourselves.
Many times it has been said that we would have to leave our comfort zones to grow. This, I am certain of, did not apply to or insinuated that God would leave us.
One of the most comforting zones is that of the reassurance of God’s word. “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB)
We may have to leave our comfort zone, but our zone of comfort is extended far beyond any stretch of our limited imaginations.
“This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.” Psalms 139:6-12 (TLB)
The zone is not a place, but a state of mind and relationship with God.
