Something to Think About: Very Touching
Reflections by Chuck Cluff, Atherton resident since 2004
Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight.‘”
I’ve done a fair amount of hiking, camping and backpacking,. Nowadays, most of the main trails have been discovered; are marked and generally maintained by the forestry service and experienced travelers who have gone before us. Staying on the main path is by far the smartest thing to do. Out on the trail it is easy to think you have discovered a short cut, only to find yourself at a dead end or facing a steep climb you don’t want to attempt. Blazing your own trail is also when people get lost. Jaunts off the main trail rarely pay off. You wind up having to backtrack, sometimes for miles. At other times a side trail eventually meets up again with the main trail, but a lot of time was wasted.
If we think of life as a journey, God’s will would be the desirable way to go. God marks the main trail for us as not only the best way to go but also the best way to be. God knows what is good for us and those around us. God’s will is the most trouble free path, but this doesn’t mean it is a path without challenges. It seems everything in this life has some degree of difficulty. No one escapes. But we can go for the least problems!
There is nothing God does not know. When hiking there are times when a map is not clear. Also places where trails meet with no marked directions. Not being sure which trail to take is frustrating and sometimes nerve wracking. Taking the wrong trail can cost you miles and hours. Huge relief comes when encountering a person who knows those trails; the right one to take, the degree of difficulty, how far to water and a place to camp. God does that for our souls, for our inner wellbeing. Doing things God’s way always wind up OK. God’s will works out better. For example: God shows us the best ways to treat others so we have fewer relational problems. God speaks to us about loving and accepting ourselves so we don’t have jealousy, envy or ego issues that leave us feeling hurt all the time. God tells us to watch our tongues so we don’t have to keep apologizing for things we said. God gives us a lot of good guidance, always wise to take. Seeking God’s will, following His good advice, pleasing Him, is the smartest thing we can do for the best trip through this relatively short life camping venture.
Recent Comments