Blinders and Staying on the Path

I travel a lot. Occasionally I am in a country where horses and buggies or carts are still being used. In such cases, I notice the horses always have blinders on. That is obviously to prevent them from being distracted and veering off the path the owner has chosen for them. It seems to work. The horses appear calm and relaxed both while walking and while waiting for further instructions.

I guess if all you can see is straight ahead of you, then that's where you want to go. The horses have to trust their owners to keep them on a path with sure footing. Having blinders on lessens the possibility for the horse getting spooked. The blinders are most often used in public places where the horses could easily be scared by what is going around them.

The blinders also prevent the horse from being confused. There may be several different choices - more than one path - in front of them. In order for the horse to know where the owner wants to go, he needs to see the path intended for him. The blinders are for the protection of the horse as well as direction of the owner.

Ordinarily, when you hear someone talk about a person having blinders on, it is meant in a negative sense. It usually means that someone does not recognize what is going on around him. He may refuse to accept what is happening. The origin of this idiom comes from the very thing I have observed in my travels - blinders on horses.

However, there is another way to think about blinders. If you are to intentionally stay focused on the path God has assigned for you, having blinders on can be a good thing.

Most of the horses wearing blinders have probably learned to trust that their owners will lead them down a good road and know that they will eventually settle in at night with nourishment and a place to sleep. As Christians, we may not need blinders, but the distractions of the world and our own desires can easily trip us up or lead us down the wrong path. We do need God to steer us in the right direction. We can totally trust Him to do so. 

Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil (Proverbs 4:25-27).

Sidewalks, Foot Paths and Stepping Stones

Walking is my favorite exercise. The best thing about walking is that you can do it practically anywhere. As I frequently travel, the only exercise equipment I need is a pair of shoes that fit properly and are comfortable - as close to "made for me" as they can get. If I don't wear a good pair of walking shoes, I pay the price for it later.

Some places make walking easier than others. Many countries offer wonderful foot paths through the forest. These paths have often been cleared of trees and fallen debris. It is therefore possible to walk through the woods enjoying the scenery rather than having to watch the ground for areas where you might trip up.

Many European countries offer pedestrian commercial areas. Without having to watch out for vehicles, you can have a very pleasant experience walking while shopping, banking, dining, or any other business you need to take care of.

Sidewalks are also provided in many places for walkers. They are even separated from designated bike paths, so that if you stay on the walkway provided for pedestrians, you are in good shape. In areas where sidewalks are not provided or are not reliable, walkers have to pay much more attention to their path. That inhibits the joy of sight seeing as you walk.

Sometimes it is up to me to provide my own walking path. While working in an area on some land that had to be leveled because heavy rains had caused unevenness in the soil, I first placed stepping stones around the perimeter. That proved to be a very good decision as the stones were the only reliable walking area for some time.

Sidewalks, foot paths and stepping stones remind me that God has provided safe paths for us in life, if we will just take advantage of them. I know that I have a choice. I can stay on His path or I can deviate from it. Life is always much more pleasant when I stay on the path He established for me. It is when I get off His path that I am prone to trip up or make wrong decisions.

Just as I only need a good pair of walking shoes to make the most of the sidewalks, foot paths and stepping stones, the only thing I need for life is to truly trust God and let Him lead me down the path He has provided for me.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path... Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight  (Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6).