“Can’t you read the sign?” by Justin March

”Signs, Signs,
Everywhere there’s signs, Do this, don’t do that, Can’t you read the sign?”-  An excerpt from the mega 1990 hit “Signs” by
the great rock band Tesla

We will see many signs in our lifetime. Some signs are informative and give us
the information we need to plan our days. Signs that say “Open”, “Closed”,
“Business Hours are 9:00-5:00”, “Gluten Free Options Available”, and many
others are helpful artifacts that allow us to make quick decisions and get on
with our lives.

Some signs are intended to be warnings and give us a chance to avoid harm’s way
and keep us free from danger. Signs that say “Keep Out”, “Dangerous Curves
Ahead”, “Rattlesnake Area”, “Non Potable Water”, and many others are merely
notifications that we are entering unfamiliar territory or taking our chances
if we choose to dismiss their messages.

And then there are signs that proclaim people’s personal agendas, signs that advertise
products for sale, signs that guide us along the highways we travel, and signs
that translate various aspects of life we may not be familiar with. Oh yes,
there are plenty of signs, and our senses can become overloaded with all the
information these messages are trying to get across. But what happens when we
face the crossroads of life where no visible signs are available?

Where are the signs for when we meet somebody new and wonder if they are
trustworthy? Where are the signs when we are contemplating a change of career?
Where are the signs when we need to let a loved one go as the pain is no longer
bearable? And where are the signs when we are faced with a new illness, injury,
or hardship?

Wouldn’t it be nice if the signs that guide our journeys through this life were
as blatant as the ones that bombard us every second of every waking hour? As we
reach the fork in the road, and are forced to choose which path to take, where
is our sign that assures our decision is correct?

They may be subtle, but the signs are still there. God has a different way of
displaying his messages, and His signs are not the kind that will pollute His
beautiful creation. He may allow a butterfly to show its’ magnificent colors as
we struggle to find beauty in this dark world. He may introduce us to an
amazing disciple, friend, or companion as the loneliness tries to keep us in
the pit. And He may breathe in His winds of grace as we are unable to forgive
those that betray us or let go of that past that holds us back.

We will see many signs in our lifetime. Some will be easy to follow, but some
will take a little more searching. We will need to have a soft heart, open
mind, and willingness to follow direction in order to see some of the signs available.
And when we allow God to show us His signs, the instructions become clear and
the path smooth. We understand what tools are needed, we extend His gifts to
others, and we follow the signs that give us the answers to some of life’s more
difficult questions.

Be humble, extend thanks, and make sure you are open to receive God’s signs!
They are not always easy to see, but when you walk as a disciple for Christ,
when you are willing to be His hands and feet in this world, and when you choose
to love others as He loves you, His signs become the beacons for your life. And
when you are ready to follow God’s signs, those trusted messages are all that
is needed as they lead you along the glorious journey that ends with you
wrapped in His loving arms!