Toolbox For Faith

Of all the lists of favorites that people have, I am probably the only person who has a favorite intersection—Whiskey Road at Grace Avenue in Aiken, South Carolina. A close up of the sign is on an 8 by 10 picture on my wall. I passed the crossroads this week while visiting in Aiken and was reminded again what a fantastic parable it is.

Whiskey Road was the path that moonshiners took and the name stuck. Building on the theme, several of the other roads intersecting Whiskey have intriguing names including Gin and Sherry. At one time, the Methodist parsonage was on one of these alcoholic beverage named side streets. I was told that Grace Avenue was named for the Grace family that was involved with Bethlehem Steel but I think of it in terms of God’s grace. On one side, Grace Avenue is not paved because it is used by horses. On the light pole on both sides of Grace Avenue is a button located the correct height so that riders on horseback can reach it and the stop light will change, the only horse light east of the Mississippi River.

The great reminder to me is that God’s grace intersects our lives at every turn and bend. God walks with us for no other reason except his grace. Paul was right on target when he said that we are saved by grace through faith. We often think that we have done something that God should appreciate but it is never enough. Whiskey Road and Grace Avenue reminds me that God intersects my life even though I do not deserve it and I respond by thanking God for his amazing grace. Isn’t it wonderful how God can still use the ordinary to remind us of the profound!

My only consolation about being the only person I know who has a favorite intersection is that I am convinced if Martin Luther were alive, he would join me in having that same favorite intersection.