Many years ago, I read an article about a blind skier. He was asked how he was able to do it and his reply was that he had a good guide who instructed him with simple, specific instructions and directions that he totally trusted.
As I thought about this, I realized that life is much like skiing downhill blind. I must admit to think about hurtling down a mountain side with two boards strapped to the bottom of my feet is frightening enough, but to think that I can’t even see what obstacles and dangers are before me is enough to scare anyone with good sense to death.
Think about the dangers that would lie ahead of you if you were in this situation. First of all would be speed control. One would not be able to see how steep the decline is and therefore would not be able to know to slow down or speed up whichever the situation dictated.
There is also the danger of terrain; if the snow-covered area is flat or hilly. One thing more frightening than moving downhill blind would be to approach a hill that would make one airborne. Flying through the air blind would be horrifying.
A third type of danger would the obstacles that would be in your path such as trees and rocks. One can only imagine the damage to one’s body if, while flying down a snow-covered hill, you blindly run into a tree or rock. The truth is this could actually lead to one’s demise.
The fourth and most dangerous would be a cliff or shear drop off in which one would just ski right off the side of the mountain plunging hundreds of feet to one’s death.
As I read this article, I began to picture in my mind what this must have looked like. There a blind skier and there skiing beside him is his guide giving him accurate and dependable instructions, such as “ski straight ahead,” “slow down,” “tree ahead move to right,” “rock ahead move to left,” “danger! stop!”
For this to work, there are four things that must take place. One, the blind skier must have a guide that knows what he is doing. This is not the time to have a first-time amateur leading you down a snow-covered hill.
Two, the blind skier must listen explicitly to the guide. You cannot be listening to outside interference.
Three, the blind skier must put his undivided trust in the guide. It is essential for him to believe the guide knows what he is doing and will give correct instructions. After all, this person has your life in his hands.
And, lastly, the blind skier must obey the guide unswervingly. This is not the time for you to think you know better than the guide.
Here is the truth–life is like skiing downhill blind. Life is full of obstacles and dangers that we often cannot see nor know that they are there. We cannot make it without a guide to give us directions and instructions.
The spiritual truth is we have access to a guide. He is called the Holy Spirit of God. For a believer he is always there, but we must listen to him, trust him and obey him.
Some of you have already hit the tree and you are bruised, battered and broken. The truth is, it is never too late to start following The Guide.
