The Thing About Trails

Here’s the thing about trails, unless you have traveled them before, you don’t know what you will see. I took my grandson, Colton, to Entergy Park in Hot Springs to take some senior pictures. Yes, our oldest grandson graduates this year. (Our next to oldest, Aaron, graduated last year.) As we walked the trails looking for good photo ops, I often stopped and snapped “trail” photos. The one to the right is an example. I had not walked this trail before. I wasn’t sure what I would see. I didn’t even know if it was worth the effort to climb. (I’m still not in good shape from all the chemo over the past years. My fault.)

As we climbed this trail alongside beautiful Lake Hamilton, we noted the trail curved to the right. Reaching the turn, a gazebo popped into view. Ah! A photo op. This was enhanced by a nice view of the lake from the top of this hill.

Life is like that. From day to day we encounter turns and curves. We can look at them one of two ways. We can shudder in fear or we can watch with anticipation. We may see something fantastic, or ho-hum, or disgusting. We may experience delight, apathy, or pain. We don’t know, but with the right attitude, we can gain something from each experience.

Twisting Trails – Part 2

Part 1 of “Twisting Trails” examined the fact that trails exist and that they are seldom straight and smooth. These facts were compared to the life we all experience, for we are all following a trail whether we acknowledge it or not. These trails lead us to some interesting places. In Part 2, the nature of trail surfaces and trail destinations are the focus.

Trails have many different surfaces. Trails around Hot Springs range from paved, to graveled, to dirt. Some trails are easy to follow. Some are very difficult. Some are short. Others are long and require days to travel. Garvin Woodlands Garden has paved trails that lead to all reaches of the many acres of the grounds. Occasionally a hiker will see a dirt trail. If it is followed, the hiker will discover that previous visitors have created a shortcut to the same destination as the original trail. The destination was the same. The path is often a more difficult, steep, and dangerous way.

Our life paths have varying “surfaces” as well. Some parts are paved and easy to follow, others are more difficult. Some may even seem to be impossible to traverse. The key to reaching the destination is having the proper equipment. A guide helps. Of course a light in the dark places is extremely important. God’s Word is the light. The Holy Spirit is our guide. With those two helps, our destination is sure to be attained.

All trails lead somewhere. A trail would not exist if it didn’t have a destination. Even a deer path has a destination: water, security, or food. Sometimes a path may lead to a wonderful view of a mountain pass, or a waterfall, or a good fishing spot. Other times a trail is more utilitarian: an outhouse, a barn, a shed, or a garden.

I once followed a trail that lead to a cliff. The view overlooked a river as it flowed through a forest. What interested me more was the pair of guides who fastened me into a harness and taught me how to rappel down the cliff! What an enjoyable experience that was. The trail up the mountain to the top of the cliff was a different story.

Life has a destination, but it is more than just “death”. Our life path could lead us to greatness, or financial success, or the mission field, or a family. We may think we know where we are going, but we need to prepare for the unexpected. Most of all, we need to be ready to enjoy the path we take, even if it is fraught with pitfalls and stumbling blocks. There will be enough beautiful vistas along the way to make it all worthwhile.

Two paths face all of us. One is easy. One is more difficult. One leads to destruction. The other to eternal life. One is smooth and well-traveled. The other is twisting and poorly traveled. One seems to be exciting, but becomes boring, dull, and unsatisfying in the end. The other IS exciting providing new opportunities at every turn.

Which path will you choose?

Twisting Trails – Part 1

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path.[1] (PS 119:105)

Life is much like a trail. Jesus said we could travel the broad and straight way or we could take the less traveled narrow twisting trail (my paraphrase of Mat 7:13,14). I’ve learned several things about trails. They exist even if we can’t see them. They are seldom straight. They have many different surfaces. They lead to somewhere. That leaves the question about which trail we will follow and how it will affect us.

Trails exist, even in the dark. It’s just that they are harder to follow. Bob Phillips, my home pastor, gave me a small, red New Testament when I graduated from high school way back in the dark ages. He inscribed Ps. 119:105 inside the front cover. I’m sure I have that volume somewhere; I have the verse inscribed on my heart.

Back in King David’s day, street lights did not exist, so night travelers either fumbled in the dark, or became innovative. A popular solution was to attach a small lantern to one of their feet. This left both hands free; I suppose for fighting off bandits or carrying something. Notice the word “small”. The lanterns did not illuminate a great distance, only enough for a step or two, hence the “lamp to my feet” of this verse.

Our paths are often traveled in the dark. We may think we know the path ahead, but in the darkness, small impediments can become major obstacles. A root we routinely step over in the light of day trips us in the shadows of night. A fork in the trail we would avoid in the light can lead us astray in the night. We can become lost, broken, and killed on what we know in the light but follow in the dark. We need a light on our feet to light the path. That light is God’s Word.

Trails are seldom straight and level. I live in Hot Springs National Park, a beautiful part of Arkansas. We are surrounded by lakes, rivers, and mountains. All are serviced by trails, most are maintained, some are not. None are straight. Lakeside trails wander around the contour of the shore. River trails follow the twisting path of the river. Of course mountain trails are laced with switch backs and never lead straight up from the foot to the top of the mountain. Traveling a trail often leads to fantastic vistas and interesting discoveries.

Likewise, our lives take twists and turns we do not expect. In my mind, my path did not involve cancer, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, CLL, to be specific. Of course, that is only a major twist. There have been many less severe twists along my trail. Some have been life changing. Others have opened to wonderful vistas. All have affected how I view life. As I write this, I am preparing for another major twist: a stem cell transplant to hopefully cure the CLL.

Read the conclusion of this essay in the next post, coming soon.

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[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Ps 119:105). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation