Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?… (Five Man Electric Band)
Focus on orange, diamond-shaped sign in the middle of the road. ROAD CLOSED.
Broaden focus. Car sits past the sign in water up to the door windows.
Ignore the sign, and you put yourself, your passenger, and rescue workers all at risk.
He did. He was ticketed. His car is done. Crashed into a hole left by a washed out culvert caused by rushing water from heavy rains. Lucky to be alive.
The Five Man Electric Band sang of adolescent rebellion against restraint. I sympathized–when I was in college. And some signs are ridiculous, to be sure.
But signs are a warning.
Road signs inform us of pending danger ahead. Ignore them not only at your own risk, but also at the risk of rescuers who come to help the foolish out of their predicament.
We receive many other warning signs–that we ignore.
Signs of coming medical problems. We could take corrective action, but we don’t.
Signs of physical problems. We could start an exercise routine. But, we ignore the signs.
Job problems, relationship problems, emotional problems. If we read the signs, we can do something about avoiding them.
But in our youthful rebellion that rides along with us until old age, we prefer to ignore the signs in some vague hope that we are the exception.
Read the signs. What are yours?
Faith Venture 
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