Some years ago I was driving a truck in Wyoming. It was a three-unit combination: a truck and two trailers, about 80 – 90 feet long.

Early one summer morning I descended Tincup Pass into Star Valley, Wyoming. The sun was just cresting the mountains when I reached the valley floor, and the road began to level out and straighten. It – it was the last curve before that highway ended. I don’t know why, I don’t know how, but as I entered the curve, I looked up to see that I was going straight off the road. There was no time! Either I pulled it back on the road, or I went over the steep embankment. I pulled it back!

Well, the truck came back in line without a problem, as did the main trailer, but the pup trailer whipped outward on the curve – crack-the-whip style – and went over the embankment. I watched in my mirror as that thing spun sideways and dug itself into the loose gravel of the shoulder. Slowly, like some lethargic elephant, the heavily loaded tank trailer began to tip. Ohhh! I thought it might settle back onto its wheels, but it didn’t. Over it went, landing with a great “whump” on its side!

Well, at that point, I lost all control of that trailer. It slewed deeper into the barrow pit. Then it came up the embankment and skated across the oncoming lane of traffic. Back and forth it went across the highway tearing itself to pieces! Now, I knew that if I slammed down on the brakes, that trailer would come around in jackknife fashion and make all matters worse.

I carefully coasted to a stop blocking most of the highway. No one was hurt – unless you count my ego – but a lot of time and money were spent repairing the damage.

Now, I learned a great and simple lesson from that mishap: Stay between the lines, boy! There are lines and signs everywhere that tell me exactly where to drive if I want to be safe. My job is to put both hands on the wheel and proceed carefully, and get there!

Life is the same. It’s all about balance. There is a road, a path, a way to heaven carefully marked with lines, signs and officers that designate safe travel. If I would know joy and freedom now and forever, I must learn to live ‘inside the lines’ of law! There is no other way!