I went on a little walk with my small sister a few days ago. She actually acts large for her age (which is 6). Sometimes anyways. On our walk, the question was posed to me 'How far are we going?' When I made known my intention to make the end of the driveway our turning point the answer came fast 'Aww why can't we go farther!' The night was slightly dark and quite dreary. A few drops of moisture were blowing into our faces and her tune changed in a matter of seconds. 'I'm cold. I'm pretty sure my ears are gunna freeze off in 10 minutes. Do we have to go all the way?' I tried a few things to help her warm up a bit and bear the slight cold. In my efforts I suggested a short jog. No sooner had we started when I was being begged to walk again. I made mention that we had barely jogged at all and that it would keep us warm. 'But my legs are short.'
Her legs are short. Are mine? She's a small child who doesn't comprehend consequences. Do I?
I'm on that walk with God. I'm that 6-year-old. My sinful natures tells me that what I want is better than God's way. If I don't want to turn at the corner God has for me I don't have to. It's my choice to make if I want to turn when God tells me to keep going. My ears are cold and I probably know a faster way to get where we are going, or at least somewhere where we can warm up. I know that God's way is truly best, and will take me on the best route to heaven, but in the moment I don't think about how my actions will affect my future. I just want to do what I want right now! It isn't always like this tho. Sometimes the other corners on the path have no appeal to me. And we wall together for awhile. But soon I'm starting to fall behind and God turns around and beckons me to walk faster. 'But God.' I say. 'I'm tired. You're walking to fast and my legs are short!'
Does God ever get exasperated with us? Does he sometimes want to knock some sense into us and say 'Look. If you turn now, if you follow your own road, you are not going to make it to heaven. The path to heaven is the way I'm showing you. Take it or leave it!' and stomp off down the road leaving us to fend for ourselves? He has never done that to me. When I do choose my own way and come back shamefully awhile later, he smiles at me and forgives me and we continue on. When my legs are too short, my ears are too cold, he slows down, gives me a toque and we continue on. 'Sweet is the tender love Jesus hath shown, sweeter far than any love that mortals have knows; kind to the erring one, faithful is He...Where he leads I'll follow. Follow Jesus everyday.'
(Updated October 6, 2020)