Know your exits

It is hard to imagine wanting to voluntarily leave
     such a place of beauty and warmth.
But those who have been around
know what savage tropical weather can do
and what to do about it:
     hurricane shutters over windows,
     emergency water and provisions,
and knowing not just when to evacuate
                                    but how.

And at some point,
 everyone faces the storms of life. 

When trouble is bearing down,
there is no time to carefully evaluate.
Emergency plans are just knowing
                               ahead of time
         how to handle a volatile situation.
Panic distracts
                 and escalates itself.
Fear just trips you up.

Wherever God leads you,
        be aware of the exits,
not in a quitting kind of way,
but when the sweet-smelling breezes of temptation
lull you into staying in a place dangerous for you.
May your heart be trained
     to differentiate what strengthens
     and what destroys,
when to stand firm
                       and when to FLEE!

...for those who have their faculties
                trained by practice
     to distinguish good from evil.
                          Hebrews 5.14


Be aware of your surroundings
   but even more,
                      God's leading.
Sometimes God calls us
   to walk through an impossible Red Sea,
sometimes to stand in the breach
     where others dare not go,
sometimes to go forth and fear not,
and sometimes,
    God says, "Run for your life!"

Teach your children,
rehearse the scenes,
practice the words,
that they would know
   both the courage to intervene,
       and the freedom
              when to turn and walk away,
not if trouble comes,
                      but when.      

Know the evacuation routes,
know your exits,
        aware as the flight attendant says,
"the nearest one may be behind you."

It may save your life,
but even more so
    God may be intending for you
                  to lead others to it.

When life gets dicey,
unpredictable and potentially dangerous,
the Holy Spirit always provides
           a way through it.
And Satan always tries to make you think
                          all the doors are locked.

No temptation has overtaken you
that is not common to man.
God is faithful,
and He will not let you be tempted
                     beyond your strength,
but with the temptation
    will also provide the way of escape,
that you may be able to endure it.

                        1 Corinthians 10. 13