Be Careful—Blinding Dust Ahead… Hello weekend readers. In this last week throughout the west, the weather was atrocious. From floods to fires and more, it was like living in a blinding storm that you can get out of. Homes were gone and some of the people in the homes were gone as well. Many folks were ready for it, but a lot more just decided it wouldn’t be that bad…and that was not a good choice for many of them.

Way back on November 29, 1991, fierce winds from a freak dust storm triggered a massive freeway pileup along Interstate 5 near Coalinga, California. At least 17 people died and dozens more were injured as dust whipped by 40-mile-per-hour winds reduced visibility to zero.

Worse yet, the afternoon menace left a three-mile trail of twisted and burning vehicles all along the interstate. Some cars were even stacked on top of one another 100 yards off the side of the freeway. It wasn’t the wind that caused such a calamity. Rather, unable to see their way, dozens of motorists drove blindly ahead into one another!

I remember this storm because several of my friends were going out to California. They were warned of the dust storms and heavy rain but they wanted to get to Coalinga for the 3 days of rock-and-roll bands. None of them came home—they road right into the blinding dust.

This story reminds me that we Christians—like those unknowing drivers have to deal with difficult circumstances and no doubt, we’ve all been in difficult circumstances. The question is “Why do we charge head-on into such situations—resolving conflict, comforting others who are mourning, or simply giving advice—without first preparing themselves spiritually to deal with them!” Unfortunately, this kind of blind-driving can lead to even more hurt.

In Psalm 119:105-111, the Message Translation gives us why we need blinders: “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Adorn me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course… I concentrate on doing exactly what you say.” 

In closing, I learned a lot from my dad in storms—not just a storm from the sky but a storm from myself when I think that I can easily cast out what is blinding me…duh—doesn’t work.

Dad told me that when these kinds of situations come up, don’t shoot from the hip. Instead, take off your “blinders” and immerse yourself in God’s wisdom. When you do, you’ll find your responses to tough situations are much more loving and effective because they’re guided by God’s grace and in God’s grace, you will find yourself strong, loved, and living in the right path for your life.

Life’s tough enough in this world, but God knows us, keeps us, loves us, and is with us at any time, AMEN.