How to Make A Decision About Moving Forward: Hesitation can Paralyze: The Story of Red, Yellow, & Green Light.
Once a young person drove up to a yellow light and waited. Many moments passed by which rolled into minutes, and it seemed as if the minutes became hours... waiting for green... their foot resting heavy on the break, poised but ready to move forward.
As they sat, the driver's mind drifted off. Memories of past tickets, fender benders and nearly fatal accidents flashed before their eyes; then their imagination began to play. Thoughts of crashes, mangled cars, and flashing ambulance lights rolled around in their mind. "I must be extremely careful. I'll do all I can within my power to never become injured, make a mistake, or cause anyone else to be hurt. I will make certain that everything I do is perfect at all times."
Finally a loud honk jarred them back to reality. The light had long since turned from Red, to Green, and soon would be Yellow once more. However the driver was afraid, “what if I start to speed through and the light turns to yellow, before long, it can change to red, how will I make it? What if I accidentally hit a pedestrian or another car?” The driver behind revved their engine.It was an angry older person. They were upset that the young, less experienced driver had not moved an inch. The angry person zipped around speeding past the younger ones car. They shook their head in disgust, just barely making it through the yellow light. The mature driver looked back making certain to catch the attention of the young one, then laughed and shook their head again, rolling on up the road ahead.
The young person was embarrassed at their lack of courage to move forward. They began to doubt their abilities even more; "I guess I could have made it too, but I'm not experienced enough, or maybe I'm just plain slow". The young person was right, they didn’t have the courage to move forward like the other driver did, and so there they sat again, red light glaring, as if it were taunting them, daring them to try.
Their mind wandered off again...They thought about all of the times others have passed them by in life, “why am I always so far behind? Why can’t I be like them, the ones who just seem to know exactly what to do?” The noise of cars zooming by to the left and right woke the young person from their day dream.
Looking around they noticed something very strange, older cars, newer cars, trucks and vans. Cars that were in much worse condition and some much better too. Drivers of all colors, ages and sizes, people on bikes and even a few waiting in line as they boarded a city bus; but all were moving, moving, rolling on ahead while the young person sat and waited with foot pressed heavy on the break, hesitant to make a move. "What's the difference between me and all of them? They are no better or worse." Why am I here sitting, waiting, scared to move forward?". The young person reasoned with themself; "It's because I'm too busy concentrating on my driving record from the past and pondering the worst for the future. It was then that the young person looked up to see the green light that would soon change to yellow again. "It's now or never!" lifting their foot up from the break, took a deep breath and then…
Fear of failure can be a yellow light quickly changing to red. Hope believes green is coming and in faith prepares to move ahead.
Brothers and sisters, I don't consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself. All of us who are grown up in the faith should see things that way. Maybe you think differently about something. But God will make it clear to you. (Philippians 3:13-15, NIVR)
