Daily I travel through the construction zone on the West Side of the Woodrow Bean Transmountain Road, I always have to slow down to safely (and legally) drive through. It is a good reminder to pay attention to my driving but also to consider how roads as well as our lives are successfully built.
The very first step to building a road is by marking the path. In the early stages, this is done with a map, then using the physical equipment needed to plow the new path for the road to go. In the same way, as we are seeking to grow through our lives and build a more successful one, we must set the direction for where we want to go. (See Matthew 7:13-14)
The second step to building a road is to pave that path so that the cars can travel over it. In our lives, this where we set our foundation. (See Matthew 7:24-27) While we pave our road, we set the foundation of where we stand on our values, our religious beliefs, and the non-negotiable ideals that we hold. This is our foundation.
The third and final step to completing the road is to paint the lines. We need boundaries on our roads and in our lives. We need to know where we are to go and where we shouldn’t. (See Proverbs 4:25-27) If we are to be successful in our lives, our marriages, and our careers we need to stay on the road that will take us there.
Now that we have built our road, it is time for us to drive away! Go for your dreams, seek out adventure, but always remember stay on the path to success. As you travel, I encourage you to contact your unit chaplain if you need assistance along the way.
First Published in the Fort Bliss Bugle on 5 September 2013, Page 9B