As I looked out at the pool, I noticed all three lanes designated for swimming laps had been taken by other people. Approaching the lifeguard, I asked if he could rope off one more lane for me. 

“Usually when the lap lanes are full, people just swim in the open pool area,” he responded.

“I understand, but I really appreciate having the ropes as a guide,” I pressed. And even though he didn’t see the need, the lifeguard reluctantly roped off the fourth lane for me. 

He didn’t know that I have swum laps in open pools before. Everything is fine when I am facing the water. I can use the blue markers on the pool floor to keep my path straight. But when I do a backstroke, I don’t have a guide. In the past I’ve strayed into another swimmer’s path and we literally suffered a head-on collision. Because I don’t want to repeat that experience, I learned to use the ropes to help me stay on course. When my arm hits one of them, I self-correct and get back on track. 

Within the safety of my rope guides, I finished my laps without injury. As I did so, I thought about this Scripture:

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
     a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

The word translated as lamp comes from the Hebrew word ner and can be described as a candle or a clay lantern with a single wick. In Old Testament times, people used these lamps to light their way in the dark so they wouldn’t stumble.

The psalmist reminds us that God’s word works like this in our lives. It guides our steps so we don’t drift or stray onto other paths and suffer the consequences. And just like the ropes help me self-correct my swimming paths, God’s word equips us to stay on track with the way we live our lives:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God  may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

His Word teaches us right from wrong. It corrects us when we unknowingly do wrong. And it rebukes us when we did wrong, but knew better. When we diligently use His Word to guide our paths, we gain the wisdom and discipline we need to live godly lives and to do good in this world. 

That day at the pool, I had to take the initiative and press the lifeguard to set up the ropes, because he didn’t see the need. In the same way, I don’t always see my need to study God’s word everyday. Sometimes I need to press myself to take the time to read it and apply its wisdom. But when I do, I always experience its benefits. I stay on track and find ways to do good in this world. And when I don’t, well… that’s when I run the risk of experiencing the equivalence of a  head-on collision.

Wherever life’s journey takes us, we will always need His guidance and protection. May we all choose to lean in and learn from the One who longs to light our paths.