The other week, I was making my way from the office suite toward the church lobby. It was early morning, and the sunlight was blinding as it streamed through the large lobby windows, bouncing off the freshly fallen snow, intensifying the glare. The hallway lights were off—no need to illuminate the whole building when only staff’s here. And I was in a hurry to get to the men’s restroom—for obvious reasons, after enjoying my morning coffee.

If you know the layout of the church, you know that the main men’s restroom is tucked into a little alcove off the main hallway, designed for privacy. Because there’s no direct line of sight into the bathroom, the door is always propped open for accessibility and safety. There’s also no conventional light switch—just a motion detector that turns on the lights as soon as you cross the threshold. It’s a clever and functional setup.

However, when the hallway lights are off, the bathroom alcove becomes quite cave like. Usually, I approach cautiously—feet shuffling, arm extended—to trigger the motion sensor before stepping in. But the door is always propped open, and, like I said, I was in a hurry.

Except this time.

My eyes temporarily blinded by the sunlight, I strode boldly forward, assuming the way was clear. And then—WHAM!

Face, meet door.

I staggered back in surprise and slumped against the wall. My eyes quickly adjusted to the gloom just in time to confirm what my face had already told me—the door was, in fact, closed. Apparently, the little wooden wedge that normally held it open had dislodged, allowing the spring arm to do exactly what it was designed to do—close the door.

I laughed, picked myself up, peeked down the hall to see if anyone had witnessed my brilliant display of physical comedy, and then checked my noggin. Nope, everything was good. Nothing bruised but my pride.

Suffice it to say, I’m back to my old ways these days—tentatively shuffling forward, hand outstretched, to make sure the light turns on before I go in.

Lesson learned.

It’s funny how we can be so sure of our steps, only to find out too late that things aren’t as they seemed. Spiritually speaking, it’s easy to assume that because we’re in familiar territory, we know the way—that just because something has always been a certain way, it always will be. We move ahead without caution, failing to watch where we’re going—until we hit something… hard.

That’s why the Bible urges us to be careful:

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. – Proverbs 4:26-27

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:2

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13

A wise walk isn’t about rushing forward blindly; it’s about paying attention, staying steady, and keeping our steps aligned with God. But vigilance doesn’t mean walking in fear—it means walking with confidence, knowing that when we stay close to Jesus, He directs our steps. When we keep our eyes on Him, we don’t have to stumble in the dark or wonder if we’re going the right way. And if we do stumble, He’s right there to pick us up again.  Jesus is our guide, light, and firm foundation. Instead of charging ahead carelessly, we can move forward boldly, trusting that He will keep us on the right path.

So let’s walk in wisdom, letting God light our way: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105). Because sometimes, the door isn’t as open as we think.