I took this photo early Sunday morning in a place known as Blow Gourd; this road is in Jackson County on the bluff of Sand Mountain in Pisgah, Alabama.  This spot is somewhat of a paradox; first, it is a very remote area, not traveled much except by the locals, a place that in some respects time has forgotten.  Second, this is a beautiful area as it overlooks the Tennessee River Valley and is very close to Gorham’s Bluff.  Each time I travel this old country road I am reminded of my childhood and home because I grew up just a few miles from this very spot.

        It was on this road that I first learned to hold a steering wheel and later, the consequence of driving too fast over icy country roads.  I have worked, hunted and fished in the pastures, ponds and fields that surround this rough pavement.  Many proud family farmers’ homesteads now stand idle, deserted and crumbling to the ground as time and neglect do their slow cruel work.  Nevertheless, each time I see these yellow lines I am reminded of the importance of our direction in life.  Imagine all the millions of miles of yellow lines that cross this nation of ours.  What are they there for?  Why do we spend so much effort, time and money painting these yellow lines on our highways?  They help give us direction as we drive; by showing us when it is safe to pass and what side of the road we should be on.

        The importance of the direction we choose to travel can not be overemphasized.  One reason is found in Newton’s first law of motion, “An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction”.  I sometimes refer to this theory as the “Rut Theory”.  We all get in a rut sometimes and some ruts are very difficult to crawl out of, some are almost impossible to escape once we begin traveling in their direction.

        So, what direction are you moving?  You are moving aren’t you?  Are you making progress as you go through life or are you just going through the motions and never getting anywhere?  What is important is not where you come from but where you are going.  Our heavenly father judges a man, not by how fast he can run, but where he is going; not by the point he has reached, but by the way he is facing; not by distance, but by direction.  Take a moment to examine the direction you are traveling in life; where will this road lead you in 10 years? 20 years?  The road we travel is a choice; make sure your road is leading you to a place called home.

Something to think about:

• One half of knowing what you want is in knowing what you must give up before you get it.

• Deep in your heart it is not guidance that you want as much as a guide.

• Starting on the right road and facing the right direction pays few dividends unless you keep moving.

• This fast age seems more concerned about speed than direction.

• If you don’t know where you’re going, you will wind up somewhere else.

• It is impossible to drive in the wrong direction and arrive at the right destination.

• Keep your head and heart going in the right direction and you’ll not have to worry about your feet.

• There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

If at first you don’t succeed, try reading the directions.
Rickey Moore