The Next Curve
There is this stretch of the road that is called the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap with 318 curves in 11 miles: America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road. Designated US 129, the road is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest with no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel.
I have had several friends that have tackled this on motorcycle and in car and they all talk about the challenge that comes from it. They talk about the thrill and they always mention the danger.
It seems that over the past several months we have been on that road, winding back and forth going around the next curve waiting to see what is around the bend.
Of course this has me thinking, (which is alway dangerous,) is this what our current life is about? Winding back and forth, trying to get to our destination, challenged by each turn in the road?
The answer is simple….yes.
Put your realistic glasses on at this time. (seems like we live in an imaginary world)
Let just think of 318 curves that we must face…..okay we will narrow it to 100…on second thought…let’s just take it one curve at a time.
Getting around the first curve (situation) will be the most important.
Now YOU must fill in the blank what that situation (CURVE) will be.
Yours will be different than mine.
It might be the same.
It might be different than anyone else.
The point is YOU must CONFRONT that situation. You must FOCUS on what is important, (reaching the destination.) YOU must be FAITHFUL to YOUR task!
IF you are so concerned, (worried) about the 100th curve when you haven’t made it past the first curve, there is trouble waiting for you. We must move one step at a time.
My friends that have done this course several times will tell you it gets somewhat easier because you know what to expect.
I think it is interesting that there are NO intersecting roads or driveways.
I wish life was like that… It seems that the road we are on today has something constantly thrown in front of us trying to block us, wreck us, make us lose our focus.
So Paul made it clear for us in Philipians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
So with each curve in life, I will continue moving forward, when I fall, I will get up. When I lose focus, I will refocus. I will not stop, I will not quit.
I let the Lord lead the way!
There is a finish line at the end…
See you there!
Jerry Elder 