While visiting in the big city last week I was reminded of a long ago and almost forgotten experience. At the time of that particular incident, friends were visiting us from Switzerland. Although their English communication improved significantly over the six weeks we were privileged to have them, my first attempts to communicate with them were somewhat limited since my mastery of the German language was, at that time, about as limited as theirs was of English.
Anyway, here's the connection between now and then: traveling as a passenger last week I couldn't help but notice how few drivers sped through intersections when the lights turned yellow. I commented on the observation and it was then I recalled Stephan and Edie's visit.
Just days after their arrival we'd gone out sightseeing and Hubby went through one of those amber signals (to his credit, it turned yellow after he'd entered the intersection). "Oh," Stephan began, paused to try to frame his comment then continued, "Oh das light var.dunkel gruen.dark green!" We laughed together but I know there was a much stricter observance of traffic rules after that. Dunkel gruen became a cue word for watchfulness.
Another traffic caution was enacted during my time in Calgary last week. Snow, bitter cold and ice turned intersections into potentially dangerous meeting places. I felt safe, however, because the driver beside me exercised wisdom and prudence. Just because the speed limit said one thing didn't make it the best thing to do under the circumstances.
Life is best lived like that. While we have the legal right to make decisions, God has posted "dunkel gruen" reminders of the risks we take in ignoring His commandments or of toying with "slippery" moral or ethical situations.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7)
