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We go hiking almost every weekend and I can't help but compare my faith journey with some of the paths we travel.
One hike, I was by myself (and the yellow dog) and somehow got off the marked trail and onto another. It was beautiful and I felt like I was going in the right direction. There was a stream, wildflowers, and some low trees I had to crawl under. I walked a long time. Then the trail got very narrow and steep in places. I kept going; convinced it would eventually lead me back to where I parked the car. But I knew I was lost. What was supposed to be a 3 mile hike round trip wouldn't take me 1.5 hours even on my slowest day. I had no choice but to turn around. I retraced my path, paying careful attention to rocks and trees I thought I recognized. I finally made my way back to a point in the trail that was marked and eventually to the parking lot. My 3 mile hike was closer to 8. The funny thing was, when I looked at the map and my bread crumbs, I realized at one point I was likely just yards away from the trail head. If I would have looked a little harder for the right trail instead of being so set on the trail I found myself on, I would have seen it. I did find my way, but it took awhile.
How many times does God lay a path out for us, give us clear direction, prepare us for the trip, and then off we go, the other way? We say, "That path is too hard," or "It's not pretty enough," or "There's no water along the way -- I like this path better." Often times we don't even know we're lost. We even pass other hikers along the way, so we think "this must be right." We get caught up in the scenery and lose track of the destination. Occasionally we might even admit we are lost, but are still convinced that we can find our own way.
But what's so great about walking with God is: no matter where our path takes us, or how lost we get, or what terrible things we saw and felt during our travels, the way back to Him is always a shortcut. No matter how long the detour, the return to our Lord and Savior is only one prayer away.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer. 29:13