By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

On a recent visit to Middle Daughter and Hubby’s house, we took advantage of the one day we’d had that week without any rain, and we all ventured down to the lake with Granddog.  We enjoyed watching the jet skis, pontoon boats, and other such vessels all greatly enjoying the water and the sunshine.

Very near the water’s edge was this particular sign.  It reads, of course, “Caution.  Swim at your own risk.”  The water, especially near the boat launch, contained many grasses and plants that normally grow along the bank of such a large lake.  The waves caused by the boats zooming past caused great splashing at times.  It could be very dangerous to attempt to swim in such an environment.  The sign was no-doubt posted to warn of such dangers.

It’s easy to look out over the beautiful waters of life, the radiant sunshine, and the boats and folks zooming past us at all rates of speed and miss the little things.  Had one stepped off into the waters of the lake, that action could have very quickly become disastrous.  Looking only at the big picture, a potential swimmer could miss the dangers of jumping in at the wrong place and under the wrong circumstances.

Now, don’t hear me wrong.  I’m not suggesting we ignore the great beauties before us.  I just think we need to be more aware of the little dangers that lie between us and those great beauties.  We shouldn’t be scared of life and all that “could go wrong,” but we should always be aware of the lurkings of Satan and his little minions.  He would like nothing more than for God’s children to be focused only on the great glories to come and thereby miss the dangers of sin and circumstance in front of our faces.

Warning signs are placed for a reason.  As you head off into the waters of yet another potentially great and beautiful week, just be aware and be prepared with your personal Life Preserver!  Jesus, the One Who walks on water, can certainly take care of you when you wade off into the unknowns.

Just a thought.