A Walk in the Woods

The aroma of sweet pine and damp moss beckons me onward. Farther into the woods I walk, wrapping up in the soft comfort that has descended upon the forest. A slow exhale escapes; I graze my fingers across the jagged shards of wood. A large tree lay cracked, broken at the entrance of my intended trail. I look beyond to notice sprawled branches, thick brush, and rooted stumps closing in on the once clear path. My heart breaks just a little as I turn away, saddened that the trail hadn’t been properly cared for.

Nature is constantly growing, moving and shifting. Walking through the woods that day, I reflected on just how easy it would be to get lost. Without proper maintenance, the proximity of the forest will soon suffocate the trail.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 24:6 NLT)

Through Jesus, the path to life has been cleared. Yet still, we in our human nature are constantly shifting. It is up to us to care for the path that God created. There are anxieties and temptations in this life that threaten to take root and suffocate us. However, through Jesus we have the ability to maintain the clarity of our path.

In John chapter 8 verse 12 Jesus said,

“I am the light of the world, if you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT)

Jesus is our light, our guide; He paved the way. As we follow Him, we learn how to uproot what is necessary and trim back the excess, we allow His light to nourish us so that we can properly care for and walk the path intended.

After turning away from the encompassed trail, I chose to follow a path that had been properly maintained. That path led me home.