It
is 1924 and you are an airmail pilot tasked with flying from New York
to San Francisco without radar or radio to guide you on your way. What
do you do? How do you navigate? How do you avoid missing the next
airport and running out of fuel?
The answer: Look for the 70-foot-long yellow concrete arrow on the ground!
As
unbelievable as it sounds, the United States Postal Service built a
series of huge arrows on the ground and spaced them approximately 10
miles apart so the pilots could find their way. Later, lights were
installed at these same sites to facilitate night flying. Many of these
arrows still exist all across the country.
I
like the idea of a big, bright arrow on the ground that points the way
to the next big, bright arrow so that someone can find the path. In
fact, I think that is a good job description for each of us.
No
one can make anyone do anything. I cannot make your decisions for you.
I cannot force you to think one way or another. All I can do is point
toward something good and hope you head in that direction.
Fortunately,
that is all we are asked to do. Jesus once said, “You are the light of
the world!” (Matthew 5:14). That is a stunning statement when you
consider that he also said about himself, “I am the light of the world”
(John 8:12). Light does not force anyone to do anything. Rather, light
illuminates the path and allows people to see where they need to go.
You
do not need to be perfect to be helpful. You do not need to know the
entire Bible to teach some truth. You do not need to do everything, but
you can do something.
You can point people to Jesus. You can share the message as you go (Matthew 28:18-20).
You can be a 70-foot-long concrete arrow!
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