The Path of Life

When you are in the midst of a struggle, it is very difficult to see the big picture and what lies ahead.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 16:11

The photo above reminds me of the many hiking trips that my father and I took when I was younger, and more agile. I recall each of the trips involved various degrees of rigorous walking or climbing and concluded when we reached some marvelous goal. For instance, we hiked the Adirondacks in New York and climbed the summit of Mt. Marcy. There, I was treated to a view like no other. Along the way we drank from a cool stream, and observed the dense woods give way to rocky bare terrain as the altitude increased.

Similarly, we hiked across several portages in Canada carrying fishing gear, and sometimes motors, up steep hills in order to reach beautiful pristine lakes which had very little contact with mankind.

I am confident that I provided ample grief to my father along each path, asking him when we would arrive at the destination… or whether there was a destination at all. All the while, I trusted my old man and the fact that he knew what lay just beyond the bend or over the next ridge. (I also trusted my mother who sent me with dad in the first place). Each time, on each trip, they were right and now I am the beneficiary of some of the most spectacular memories.

Our walk with the Lord is not unlike these stories. The path He lays before us contains a fair share of twists, turns, hills and valleys. Often the rocky footing causes us to stumble. We might ask “where does this lead to?” I dare say that we already know the destination  – ultimately. Instead, we ought to calmly admire the “fullness of joy” and the “pleasures” of simply being in the presence of God.

We hear the phrase “stop and smell the roses”. That concept might be lost on a teenager hiking through the woods carrying a 50 pound backpack and a small motor. I don’t recall the beauty of each trail due in large part because I was so focused on getting to the end of it. And so it goes with our walk through life. The Lord has already made known His path for us; we should therefore take the time to be joyful.