I can’t believe that it has been five years since I retired! When I made the decision to retire I also made a list of things that were on my bucket list that I never got around to doing when I was working. One of those things was getting my motorcycle licence!
It is definitely a process to become fully licensed and with a background in insurance, I am a believer that it has been a good thing to make it as gradual as it is. Part of the process after the written test is to take a motorcycle safety course so I signed up to attend at the RCMP facility in Regina!
I remember the instructor saying, “You’ll steer where you stare”! I found this rather interesting until we started to ride the training route! There were switchbacks and sharp curves so on the first trial run I suddenly found myself riding off course and into the weeds! After that I really concentrated on looking exactly where I wanted the bike to go and you know what? It worked! I was amazed that whether it was a tight turn or a lane change, it truly did work! I did end up where I was looking.
The analogy to real life is a simple one as we can often find ourselves in one ditch or another because we are focused on the wrong thing. We can be gripped by fear and worry and find ourselves stuck there; or we can keep our eyes fixed on our Heavenly Father who is in control and who knows exactly where we are and how to lead us through!
We are all familiar with the story of Moses and how he led the Israelites out of the land of Egypt but when he died the leadership was passed on to Joshua.
Joshua was overwhelmed with the responsibility of leading the people of Israel into the Promised Land which is when God said to him, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them, Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go (Joshua 1:6-7).”
Joshua needed to just steer the people of God in the direction God was leading them to and not veer to the left or to the right. We need to know what God’s word says too in order that we can protect ourselves from getting off into one ditch or another.
My Aunt gave me some wonderful advice a few years ago: “Look to what God is doing, and not what He isn’t”.
We can have such an attitude of gratitude if we focus on all the wonderful things and ways that God has undertaken for us.
Sometimes I like a verse to write out and put on my fridge to help me in times of stress and this is one of my favorites, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go! (Joshua 1:9)”
Be encouraged! You will steer where you stare and that can be very good!
