A long time ago, in a country far, far from here… Well. It was actually growing up in my younger adult years, and if I think about it too much it actually seems to be a very long time ago!
In those younger years, it was normal to wear hunting gear so as to blend into the scene so that the wildlife would not see you. The problem is that other hunters may not see you and mistake you for something you don’t want to be mistaken for. So. Total Camouflage became somewhat passe and hunter safety required you to wear so much “blaze orange” so as to not be mistaken for something you’re not. Wildlife. All the while trying to stay camouflaged just enough so the wildlife will miss you!
In fact, I have a friend from my college days that was killed on opening day of hunting in another state because he was mistaken for wildlife…and he was wearing proper hunting gear which included the safe feeling blaze orange.
Standing out does not always make you safe. But it does give you an advantage others might not have! Click To TweetThrough my years of driving, I have recorded nearly 2 million road miles. Early on, I became very aware that the same concept would be good while I’m driving so I turn my headlights on every day, all day, 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I want to be seen and not blend into the background of local scenery. It’s a blast, even though you seldom see it any longer, to acknowledge another driver who is frantically turning their headlights on and off to let you know that your headlights are on. Flip them your high beams to acknowledge their panic, and go on your way. Content! I’ve proved my point. I want to stand out. I want you to see me coming so you don’t pull out in front of me and create all kinds of problems for all kinds of people.
When can you legally drive without your headlights? We used to guess when it was safe to turn them off so we could save the bulbs! Nearly every day I see people guessing when they feel safe enough to drive without headlights and I just shake my head. If they are not seen by every vision struggle around, then they may be the cause, or the victim, of someone’s poor choice.
Maybe it’s just me. I don’t want to be “just safe enough” when it comes to you knowing that I’m there. So. Headlights on. All the time.
Okay. I know there are times we simply want to blend in and not be seen as someone standing out. We all see someone with outlandish attire and you just know they want to stand out and be seen and talked about! The joy of this is that you get to pick the time and place you want to stand out or blend in. You will, however, pay for the consequences of your choice. Blending may just be the way you are not seen, but it may be the reason you get hurt.
Here’s my thought. It was Job who uttered this oft-repeated phrase, “And I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.” (Job 19:20, NKJV) Through many years of hearing someone’s teaching on this one phrase, I have come to my conclusion. I don’t want to barely be “safe”, I want to be safe by a mile!
It’s like walking the edge of a cliff with no harness protection to save you should you stumble. I’ve gotten close to the edge a number of times, but I always err on the side of caution and strive to protect myself less vertigo or an inerrant root cause me to stumble and tumble.
Back in those Texas hunting years, I would also carry a snake bite kit because you never knew when you would find one that finds you back! If I was hunting near a marsh then I also wore snake guards around my lower extremities to protect me from their fangs. I’m just saying. In Alaska, we would do what was necessary to notify Mama Bear that we were near so as to not get between her and her cubs, you know, make noise to let her know you were coming! If you’ve never walked through alders or berry bushes and not worried about whether a bear was around, then slink through all you want and you may just come face to face with the Terror of the North American continent!
One last thought. The Apostle Paul describes Satan in a way that may have been the problem of Adam and Eve in the garden.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV)
In the Amplified Bible, the word “transform” has been replaced with “masquerade“. Just as we allow for the excess of some to dress into costumes that make you think they are something they are not (Halloween), we also find many masquerading themselves so they can blend into the surroundings, so they can fool even the most senior among us. You see, even Satan knows that he can camouflage himself to look legitimate, and there are many who are swayed by his techniques. Just because they are camouflaged they are not necessarily safe to trust. A “false light” is not the True Light. Jesus said,
So. As you pass through life, think about how you are making yourself safe by standing out when others think it safe to blend in. Additionally, think about how you masquerade yourself to look like everyone else around, when it may be wiser to stand out for who you truly are, and who you want to represent. Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5) But then, he pointed the light on his disciples and told them:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV)
Your shining light removes all doubt. Your light identifies who you are. No camouflage required! Jesus teaches us one last thing I want you to consider. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves! Be as wary as the serpent, but live harmlessly as the dove. (Matthew 10:16)