Narrow Paths
Scripture: 13 “Heaven can be entered
only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is
wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14 But the Gateway to Life is
small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it. Matthew
7:13-14
We drove the 4x4 truck
slowly out Lands End Road along the 10,000 foot Grand Mesa in Colorado. It was a 15 mile dirt road that was only
open from Memorial Day until October. It
was covered in potholes holding water from an earlier rain that reflected the
moving clouds overhead. The map said
there was a cow camp up ahead, but we traveled at less than 20 mph along the
gravel road and miles passed slowly.
A trail crossed the
road at the cow camp and lead out toward the bluff according to the map. Even at our slow pace, I still could not
identify a trail. There were small
cabins off the road and a parking area, so we stopped to scope out the kiosk. It wasn’t until we got out of the truck that
I realized the trail was concealed by head-high wildflowers. We trekked out toward the bluff and after a
while we realized there were signposts marking the trail. These posts were only barely visible when the
trail would rise. I am short and I was
somewhat bewildered as we wandered through the field of flowers hoping to find a
bluff view.
It was months later
when I was remembering the beauty of that far-away place that I realized my
fast pace was causing me to miss lots of beautiful things. My faith path was paralleling the Interstate
instead of Lands End Road. I was moving
so quickly from place to place without ever slowing down to even a 20 mph pace
that I was certain I had missed the hidden path. Even if I slowed down I could not see
it. The hidden path isn’t visible unless
you stop and deliberately look to find it.
I feel certain that
only a remnant of Americans have ever visited the Grand Mesa and even fewer have
driven out Lands End Road; even less still have stopped at the cow camp to
discover Deep Creek Trail 709. We could
have easily missed the wildflower covered ridge-line that gave views of the
valley 10,000 feet below. I can only
image how different that same landscape looks in December.
Faith is no
different. We must be brave and seek the
less traveled paths to find unique beauty.
There are things we miss if we stay on the safety of paved
paths. There are even more things we
miss if we stay in the safety of our trucks moving slowly on the less traveled
paths. It is only when we stop, and
examine the paths carefully that we find that narrow way that leads to life
eternal.
The busy highways of
life are far more dangerous than the 20 mph dirt path. Reflect and decide when was the last time you
found a hidden path and risked what might lie out beyond where you could
see? That is where you will find
faith. That is the narrow path.
Prayer: God give us presence of mind to stop and
seek the narrow path that leads to life.
Give us courage to travel what may appear to be a dangerous narrow path. And give us the Holy Spirit to guide us as we
travel this path of faith. Amen.
Prayer
Tip: Sit in silence in an unfamiliar place and ask
God to show you new things. Rarely do we
sit silently in this noisy world.
