Turn Signals and Guardrails

Chances are that if you have ever been driving your car and waved at me, I didn’t notice. Now, that is not because I am oblivious to what is going on in traffic—quite the opposite. I can get so hyper-fixated on observing vehicles that the people sort of fade away. But this is not because I’m a car-nut either. Honestly, I care so little about what a person drives, I barely know what kind of make or model my friends drive. But I do care about how people drive and what their cars are doing.

One of my greatest pet-peeves on the road is the near total absence of turn signals. I am not naive enough to think that I have a flawless record, nor am I keeping score. However irritated I may be at the perceived irrelevance of the “blinker” hardware and electronics, I am fascinated by the reasons why they aren’t used. Is it carelessness, familiarity, habit, spontaneous decisions, distraction, a blown-out bulb, or shorted fuse? I want to know. It blew my mind when family members told me that once they reach the town they live in, they just don’t use their turn signals. *Seriously, just look up statistics about traffic accidents and proximity of residence!*
 
Ok, brace yourself. Just like Enchiladas Suizas, it’s about to get cheesy, but hopefully really good! In the spirit of graduation, new life eras, and summer vacation plans, let’s explore some “Turn Signals” for our spiritual journeys.

One Good Turn Deserves Another

Just like turn signals in traffic, our proverbial decision-making “signals” have more than one function. Some of us may be tempted to believe that our turn signals are just for us. To be certain, they do have a function for us drivers. It is to establish that we know where we are going, and that we have a deliberate, intentional course of action.

But just like knee-jerk decisions and reactions on the road, when our lives are continually filled with these types of actions and reactions, things get sketchy and sometimes, downright dangerous. That is not to say that spontaneity is always a bad or reckless thing. Some of the most fun people in my life have quick-witted and spontaneous personalities, and that is not a bad thing. It is when a spontaneous person is unable to or refuses to have balanced decision-making skills that things get uncomfortable or alarming.

Conversely, sticking to an intentional, laid-out plan does not automatically make it a good plan either. I have witnessed friends make very intentional decisions, despite clear signs of warning—these were pain-filled, life-altering, harmful decisions. This is where the second function of turn signals comes in.
 
Turn signals are also for our community. It helps us give clear communication, establish healthy boundaries, and show concern for others. “Turn signals'' should be given and received in order to function well. Proverbs 12:15 states, “...the way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise”. Have you ever felt the burden of your opinion being “right” while ignoring the guardrails of good counsel? If we are making our decision known, but our friends and family are waving caution-signs and flashing their proverbial lights at us, we should slow down and observe the on-coming hazards and then adjust our course of action. 

Turn Down

Not all of the options we have available to us are good ones. This was a piece of knowledge given to me many years ago. While it may seem obvious to some, there are times where this truth just doesn’t click until we are mid-way down a path we no longer want to be on. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.

Sometimes, there is very little good on the paths we could take. Sometimes, it may be a great path, but we are not yet prepared or mature enough for it. Sometimes we are given bad directions. If a path available to us is likely to lead us into sin, we should turn it down before committing to it. I have a way of justifying my sinful desires sometimes, and I imagine that you do too. “It’s not that bad, or it’s not that big, or it’s not that often” seem to frequent my thoughts when I’m struggling. Evil is an option.

The Bible is clear that we should turn and flee from temptation and evil (Job 28:28, Psalm 119: 37, Prov. 16:17, Eze. 18:21-23, Acts 14:15, 2 Tim. 2:19, James 1:13-15, 1 Peter 5:8-9). We should become better and better at “turning down” some available options. That isn’t just for us either. When we do this in community, we just might be equipping others to be able to turn down harmful temptations as well. There is a great deal of courage that can be found when we see and hear someone doing something that we wish we could do ourselves. Just imagine what temptations we could identify and turn down when we aren’t trying to do it alone (Heb. 2:18, 4:15-16).

Turn ‘Round (Right ‘Round, Baby, Right ‘Round)

One of the absurd ways we trick ourselves into staying where we are after making harmful decisions is to convince ourselves that “it is too late”, “the damage is already done”, “we might as well stay where we’re at”, or “ we shouldn’t get anyone else involved”. We will all make mistakes. We will all get our “signals” messed up, take wrong turns, or give bad directions. Romans 3:23 states: “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. But unlike the lies we may tell ourselves, this is not the end, and we don’t have to stay. We can choose to turn around.

The Biblical name for this “turn signal” is repentance. Not only did John the baptizer, Jesus himself, and Jesus’s disciples preach repentance to Israel, so did Peter and Paul to the Gentiles and every nation (Luke 24:46-47, Acts 3:17-20, 11:18, 20:21, 26:19-20). Repentance is an on-going invitation to us all. It’s not too late to turn. The damage can be redeemed! You don’t have to stay in darkness, and you do not have to be alone. The repentance God desires for us comes from his “...being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish” (2 Peter 3:9, NET).

Turn Over

Repenting from our worldly desires is needed and for our benefit, but what are we repenting from? Identifying, admitting, and exposing our flaws, mistakes, and sins is necessary for repentance. When we know that we have trouble areas, the worst thing we can do is stay silent about them. Much like having an infection in your body or an oil leak in your car, even small issues can become major threats when left untreated. Ephesians 5:11 addresses this concept: “...do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”.
 
Exposing our sins removes its ability to maintain power over us. Much like driving in the dark with no headlights on, we have no way to see the dangers ahead. Leaving things hidden is a function of fear—not faith.  Alternatively, identification and confession of sin is “...so that you may be healed”(James 5:16), to “obtain mercy” (Prov. 28:13), and “to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As followers of Jesus, we need to be people who turn over our sins so that they can be exposed and handled appropriately instead of sweeping our issues under the rug.

Turn Up

Wherever life takes you, whatever your new journey may be, and however you get there—find a community of fellow believers and show up. Find people that desire to be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Being part of a healthy community makes all the other “turns” easier.

Having community should provide safety and trust to “turn over”/expose our weaknesses and sin and “turn ‘round”/repent from them. Having community should also provide camaraderie, accountability, and wisdom to “turn down” temptations and confess when we mess up. Our “turn signals” are for us and also for our community. They are to be given and received. We are to guard, and we are to be guarded.

Holy God, help us to repent when we sin against You and each other. Help us to resist the lure of selfish desires. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.