.....hug

In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone in the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta, Canada, to the Yukon. Linda didn't realize that you don't travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown little Honda Civic.  So, she set off where only four-wheel-drives and cars with chains normally venture. 

The first evening she found a room in the mountains near the summit and asked for a 5 o'clock wake-up call, so she could get an early start.  She couldn't understand why the clerk looked surprised at the request, but when she awoke to an early morning fog shrouding the mountain tops, she understood. 

Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast.  Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.  "Where are you headed?" one of the truckers asked. "Whitehorse," she answered.  

"In that little Civic?" one of them said.  "No way!  This pass is way too dangerous in weather like this."  "Well, I'm determined to try," was Linda's gutsy, if not very informed, response. "Then I guess we're just going to have to hug you," the trucker suggested. Linda drew back.  "There's no way I'm going to let you touch me!" she said angrily.

"Not like that!" the truckers chuckled. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear.  That way, we'll get you through the mountains safely." 

Throughout that entire foggy morning, Linda followed the two red dots - the tail lights of the rig in front of her.  She had the reassurance of another big rig - right behind her - as they slowly made their way safely up, and through, the mountains. She realized that she could never have traveled this road on her own. She needed the two truckers to "hug" her.

There are times we are caught in the fog of our own dangerous passage through life.  During those times, we, too, need to be "hugged"... Hugged by fellow Christians who know the way and can safely lead ahead of us, and with other Christians behind us to guard the way, gently encouraging us along.

With those fellow Christians "hugging" us - both in the front leading us and also behind us guarding us - we too, can pass safely through the mountains and passes of life.

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 

- charles swindle