Road Signs (A Short Story)

A small red car was driving casually down a long and straight road. Three happily chirping birds flew by overhead. Red smiled at them, she loved watching the way birds flew. The landscape around her was lush and vibrant green, perfect for a sunny, summer day.

Presently, Red took a left turn towards the lake. She drove towards the glittering mass. Even more than birds, Red loved water. The way it trickled down her windows when it rained or splashed on her tires when she drove through puddles. Sunshine was dancing along the waves, seemingly calling to her. Red drove up to the shore, until the waves could just reach her tires on the sand. She took a deep breath of the glorious damp, fresh air.

A boat came speeding close by, breaking Red out of her trance. It felt to her that the many boats out on the water were teasing her. They mocked the way her tires stayed on the solid ground. Red heard another car pull up beside her. It was Purple, one of her friends from town. Purple was a small car with a quiet engine. Red smiled as Purple pulled up beside her.

“Hi, Red! What are you doing?”

“Just watching the boats. Isn’t it wonderful the way they drive along the water?”

“Um, sure, I guess so. But why do you care? You love the road.”

“Well, of course I do…Just sometimes I think…well, I think it would be better to be a boat...That’s all.”

“But, Red,” Purple started nervously. “You know what the signs on the road say. Cars aren’t supposed to drive on the water.”

Red sighed. None of her friends understood her love of water. They thought the road was enough. They had no idea of the other opportunities and adventures that lived just beyond the shore. Red rolled her eyes. Purple followed all the rules so willingly. She never thought that there might be more out there.

Red kept watching the water.

“The signs are probably there for a reason, Red.” Purple didn’t like how quiet Red had become.

“And besides,” Purple continued. “You’re made to drive on the ground. You’re not a boat.”

Red sighed again. “Yeah, Purple. I know that. I was just wondering.”

“Well…okay then, Red. Um, I’ve gotta go.” Purple said dejectedly. She didn’t want to hurt her friend’s feelings. “Just be smart, okay?”

With that, Purple drove back to the road.

What does she know? She doesn’t love water like I do. Red thought to herself.

After a couple minutes, Red heard an engine roaring. It sounded different than any of her friends. As she glanced back at the bend, a tall and broad orange truck came speeding around. It pulled up beside Red.

“Hi, are you new in town?” Red asked tentatively. “I’m Red.”

“Well, how do you do?” The truck asked loudly. “I just moved in, thought I’d take a look around. I’m Orange. What are you doing so close to the lake? Cars usually stay on the road.”

“Well..” Red started slowly, nervous of what her new friend would think of her desire to be on the water, “I actually like watching the boats…Driving on the water looks like a lot of fun.”

“Oh, it is!” Orange said enthusiastically. “I know lots of cars, brave ones like you, that go on the water just like all the boats do!”

Red was shocked. “Really? That’s incredible!” Then she remembered her previous conversation with Purple. “But, wait. What about the signs along the road? Cars aren’t supposed to be on the lake.”

Orange laughed, “You mean those rickety old signs I passed? I’ve seen signs like those before. They were made thousands of years ago, when cars weren’t allowed to do anything! The signs don’t apply to modern cars!”

Red had learned about how old the signs were when she was younger. She had been taught to always listen to the signs. Purple listened to them, but she was a goody-two-shoes. Red didn’t want to be old fashioned like that.

She looked at the truck beside her, “I don’t know Orange...Do you think I could?”

“Of course! Red, you can do anything you want to do! No road should keep you from pursuing your dreams!” Orange said. She seemed so genuine and sure.

Red sighed. “No one around here understands me. They think I’m different for wanting to be on the water.”

Orange frowned.

“Oh, Red…” She said empathetically. “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t be ashamed of how you feel. If you love the water, then you should go out there and have fun! A car can do anything a boat can. Maybe you could teach those boats a thing or two about driving on the waves!”

Red looked hopefully at the water. Maybe Orange was right. After all, if Orange knew other cars around the world that drove on the water, then perhaps Red could too.

“Think about it, Red. If you need anything, anything at all, you come find me.” Orange said with a sweet smile.

Red smiled back. “Thank you, Orange. I think we’re going to be great friends!”

Orange laughed as she drove quickly away.

Red looked at the lake. Boats were still driving around, making large waves and spraying water high into the air. What could it hurt, thought Red. Orange is right, I need to make my own decisions. The world is changing after all. Cars today aren’t made the same as they used to be. I can do anything I want to.

Red backed up.

I can be whoever I want to be!

She took a deep breath of the suddenly cold, damp air.

“I can be whoever I want to be!”

Red drove forward as fast as she could. She was gaining speed. The water was so inviting, so beautiful. She was almost there.

SPLASH!

The water sprayed upwards in front of Red. She thought about how pretty it looked and how right Orange had been. She had done it!

Red felt the water rush above her tires, it was wonderful! She was finally where she was meant to be! She kept moving forward, going deeper and deeper. For several glorious moments, Red was driving on top of the water.

A boat started to drive up to her. Red tried to say hello, but her mouth was full of water. Confused, Red looked around. She was sinking! With a swirl of water and bubbles, Red sunk deeper into the water.

As the blackness enveloped her, she repeated to herself one last time, I can be whoever I want to be…

Author’s Note

As you finished this story, you may have wondered why there was not a happy ending. Unfortunately, it represents a very real problem happening around the world today, one without a happy ending when viewed from God’s perspective.

The Bible tells us that God created human beings, male and female, in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). When humans sinned, they rejected their Creator’s designed order and authority, just like all of us still do today (Romans 3:23). The purpose of this short story is to point out one specific place where Christians are actively rejecting God’s authority and the consequences of that decision.

The world tells us that having any boundaries is being oppressive and that women can do anything men can. It tells us to make new paths, follow our passions and feelings, and ignore anyone who tells us otherwise. This view has bled into the Church as well.

Several places in the Bible lay out clearly that the spiritual leadership position of a pastor should be a man, not a woman (1 Timothy 2:8-15; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 14:33-35). However, since this is seen as “oppressive”, “sexist”, and “old fashioned”, many Christians have simply rejected what the Bible teaches on this subject. There are female pastors all around the world today. They proudly proclaim that what they do is right, that they love it and are good at it. They tell us that the church has moved on to a new era where female pastors should be accepted and praised.

But that is just step one. Once you reject God’s authority in one area of life, such as His designed order for church leadership, it becomes easier and easier to do it in all parts of life. Just like Red, you will end up falling down a slippery slope of heresy, confusion, and Biblical disregard.

The Blunt (Brace yourself)

Christians bring glory to their Creator when they follow His design for church leadership, not their own.