“So watch yourselves.” Luke 17:3

Just back from summer vacation in the mountains, I took time to go over notes of the experience. One of the great highlights was our annual adult ATV ride through the mountains. We have friends up there that know places one can only DREAM about in Florida. Places where the mountains are steep, secluded and at times, treacherous! That’s why we leave the kids at home!

We have all been riding ATV’s and dirt bikes together for years. The relationships have been cemented and we know each other very well. Each year we grow closer together and each year the bond gets better and better. Though I cant say the same for the 4-wheelers! My son-in-law just bought a brand new one, but he was the exception. The rest of us rode on old things that are in need of some repair. One of those things… is brakes!

I am sure you are thinking that mountains and ‘no’ brakes go together like filet mignon and rat poison! And you would be quite right. But our nature is not to pass up a good ride over some silly little thing like… brakes! So off we went! ‘No’ or ‘LIMITED’ brakes makes for an interesting adventure. As usual, the lead dog of our party never changes over the years, and his speed is ALWAYS fast. So we all have to ‘watch ourselves.’ Getting too far behind means we may miss the trail (I did)! Too close and well… you get the point!

Going up and down the mountains and through the streams of life is challenging. The verse today is a good technique for navigation. If you read the verse in context, you will see that it is NOT an ‘every man for himself’ mentality. It calls for us to watch, not only our own life, but to look out for the others close to us as well.

There is no real firm rule or gauge that says, ‘maintain 127.5 feet between ATV’s.’ Sometimes we get very close. Sometimes the distance grows. But at NO time are we EVER to NOT be looking out for our own welfare, AND ALSO…the welfare of the others with us! There are no rules except one… ‘care enough to care!’ Which can get rather exciting at times.

We made it back safely with the only incident being the lead dog breaking an axle! But it was a great time… one for the books! We WILL get together again around a fire and talk about the time when….” And that is just what the Christian life with mutual believers is like. Watching ourselves while watching out for each other. I wouldn’t choose any other way!