Following the Rules

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.  ~ Hebrews 13:17 

How often do we think that rules and laws pertain to others, but not ourselves?  How often do we feel that we are invincible?  We often see others bending or breaking the rules and think to ourselves how crazy the offenders are, but do we ever view ourselves in that way when we bend or break the rules to suit ourselves? 

This weekend, my husband and I drove through the Smoky Mountain National Forest.  We love to visit Cades Cove and view any wildlife that meander through the area on our scenic drive.  We especially enjoy when that wildlife happens to be a bear, for we don't see them up in "our neck of the woods" in northern Illinois. 

 I was starting to feel a little disappointed that we hadn't seen any bear in our two days of driving through the Cove.  We continued our scenic tour along the winding road between the Cove and Gatlinburg, when we saw many cars pulled off to the side of the road, a female ranger quickly walking toward a group of people all looking up the hill and then spotted almost a half dozen men that had crossed the stream and were standing in different areas up the hill, pointing cameras and camera phones further up the hill.  The ranger was yelling for them to get back to the road.  Looking farther up the hill, we could see a mama bear slowly walking up the hill, turning to keep an eye on her cub that was slowly following her at a distance. 

My first reaction was, "oh, how cute!  I have finally seen a bear on this trip!"  Then I realized that the men trying to get closer pictures of the animals really were not being very smart.  This was not a petting zoo!  The mama bear was not a docile creature, as she appeared in her slow, laid-back style of walk.  She could have turned at any moment and severely harmed or killed one of these men if she felt that her cub was in danger.  The ranger was doing her job to keep the "not so bright" men from continuing their quest by calling them back before the mama bear became threatened.  She was also keeping the mama bear safe, for if the mama attacked, the mama would have to be put down, leaving her cub orphaned. 

Rules and laws are made for reasons that we may or may not always agree with, but they serve a purpose.  Not following them may create harm not only for us, but for others involved as well - be "the other" a fellow human or other creature of nature.  Thinking that we are exceptions to the rules creates more problems for those trying to enforce them.  By not obeying and becoming harmed in the process, the person or persons enforcing these rules and laws may suffer consequences that they do not deserve to be punished for.  They may be harmed in the process of protecting the offenders, or they may be reprimanded by their superiors for situations that they were not able to fully control. 

When we are "out and about," we need to remember that God has placed people, rules and laws here to help protect us.  We need to consciously follow these rules and listen to those in authority so that, not only are we kept safe, but so are those around us.  We are not omnipotent, even though we like to think that trouble will only come to other offenders.  Following the rules will keep us safe to enjoy another beautiful God-given day. 

Prayer 

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the rules, laws and people You have placed here to enforce them.  Thank You for keeping our best interests at heart and help us to listen to and follow these rules so that we, and others, remain safe as we enjoy the lives You have blessed us with.  Amen.

~ Wendy Miller