Happy Trails

April 18, 2014 | By Chuck

"Happy Trails" Earlier this week my oldest daughter, Faith, and I went for a walk through our neighborhood as we do from time to time. There is a north and south side to our neighborhood that are separated by a beautiful lake in the middle. We live on the north side but for the sake of exercise we walk across the bridge over the lake to the other side and then several blocks down to the second bridge which brings us back to the side where we live. As we crossed the second bridge the other day I noticed two boys playing on a trail that led from the lake into some woods. Seeing those boys playing on that dirt trail made me think of two things. First of all, it reminded me of my childhood and the woods that weren't too far from my house. Those woods were so special, so I thought back then, because they were full of dirt trails leading every which way. I spent a lot of time with friends riding bikes up and down the trails in those woods. Playing on trails in woods really doesn't appeal much to me anymore but when I was a boy it was an awesome adventure. Those were great times and are wonderful childhood memories of a boy being a boy and playing on trails in the woods. Secondly, as I watched those boys from the bridge playing on that trail, I was reminded of the trail that I'm on today. I'm not referring to the walking trail that I walk for exercise. I'm thinking about the spiritual trail that I'm on and that I'm confident will lead me home eternally someday. Even though I don't walk trails in the woods very often anymore and maybe you don't either, we're still walking a trail through this life. The trail we walk through this life has many distractions that will tempt us to leave the trail. There are many obstacles that will cause us to stumble and even fall at times. No matter how emotionally bruised and banged up we are from walking this trail, we simply must stay on the trail and follow the footprints of Jesus that were left for us. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."(Mt.7:13-14) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."(Prov.3:5-6) If we will follow Jesus on this trail through life we will be overcome with excitement when we reach our final destination of heaven. Chuck Ball