On the Right Track

Day 83 of Photo Inspirations — On The Right Track! 
Driving down Hwy 75, it was “photo inspiration time” — as I drove past the BNSF trainyard in West Tulsa and saw what seemed to be the longest train I’ve ever seen.  I was amazed at all the oil tankers that were a part of the moving train I saw — probably at least a hundred.   And, as “off-the-beaten-path” as it may seem, that trainyard holds sweet memories for me — so much so, that I had to dig in my photo archives for those photo memories.

I well remember the love our first grandson had for trains.  Actually, he was consumed with them.  And we did everything we could to embrace that love with him.  We loved taking him to Ollie’s Station Restaurant.  If you haven’t taken your kids or grandkids there — it’s a MUST SEE — besides country home cooking!   Model trains all throughout the restaurant that go around their ceiling tracks quite often, as well as an amazing train city all laid out.  Of course, that was Braden’s favorite place to go.  When he comes to Tulsa, he still likes to go to Ollie’s.  And, these photos brought back the memories of Papa and Braden going to the BNSF trainyard here where they watched the trains coming in for hours — locking and unlocking their cars.

And, there’s also the memory of the little powered train that he drove around the house with his little brother.

And, I think about THE CONDUCTOR of our lives and desiring that He guides us in making the right decisions on our “life” tracks.  I pray, with the Psalmist, “Show me your ways, Oh LORD; teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4. The Conductor knows what’s up ahead, but we don’t, and sometimes the great unknown causes us fear and apprehension.  Putting confidence in THE Conductor of our lives is where we find the greatest peace and comfort.  He knows the beginning from the end and the tracks He’s laid out for our lives are for our ultimate good.  So we pray, “Show me YOUR way — Teach me YOUR path”, because when we seek His wisdom and direction….we’ll arrive at our destination in just the perfect time — HIS TIME.

Continuing to remember back to my grandson’s love of trains, we took him and his little brother to the Tulsa Zoo where they have a fun train that goes all around the zoo.  Sitting in their Papa’s lap, of course, was their security blanket, but what admiration they had for the Conductor.  He was the King Pin that knew his way around those tracks.  And, he would get them safely back to the station.  

Our lives are all about getting on the train, allowing the Conductor to take control, and not getting derailed. Remember the story about “The Little Engine That Could?” When he was trying to go uphill, he kept saying, “I think I can!”, “I think I can!”.  Great story about optimism and determination.  But, better than that, we can say, “I KNOW God can!”, “I KNOW God can!”  Staying in close communication with our Conductor, keeps us “on track” and ready to move forward and follow His leading at a moment’s notice.    He just might be saying “ALL ABOARD” — right now.