Stay In Your Lane

One of the phrases of recent years, that invites folks to focus on their area, is “stay in your lane”. It has the connotation of driving along a road, yet without that context. It instead is meant to admonish those who extend outside of their normal boundaries – even when (especially when!) they know better.

Often, it comes when someone lacks the skill or ability to engage where they are trying to; or when they are ignoring the parameters that have been set for them. What is generally not lacking in these circumstances, however, is an overdeveloped confidence.

I was thinking about the phrase last week when I headed out snowshoeing; I had decided to go alongside the track that the nordic ski club had set at a local golf course. I say “alongside” intentionally – following the request of the ski club (and common sense), I kept off the ski tracks, as I know that snowshoes can cause harm to the groomed trails – and therefore create unnecessary problems for the skiers.

So I trekked out; beside the ski trails, making tracks of my own. Several skiers passed me, there were plenty of friendly ‘hello’s and smiles. Everyone stayed in their lane; everyone had a good day out.

Staying in our lane in other areas of life can also be beneficial; a healthy humility and self-awareness can keep us exercising our ministry in ways that are helpful, healthy, and fruitful to what we have been called to. When we veer into others’ lanes, like traipsing over a groomed ski trail, we can cause damage to the ministry of others; overstepping into someone else’s lane (even with the best of intentions) denies them their ministry.

Our lanes are there; and we all have them. God is always calling us onward, giving us opportunities to go and grow and serve. God is also always reminding us that we are accompanied on our journeys by the others in our lives – who are following their own lanes.

May God grant us discernment and wisdom to stay in our lanes!