By Jerry D. Ousley
Bill loved hiking. New trails, rough terrain — the harder, the better. If it involved some climbing, he was good with that. If it was through a swamp, he had the hip boots and equipment for that too. He was simply passionate about being in the outdoors and experiencing nature to the fullest.
His family, on the other hand, didn’t share his compassion. The kids preferred the pool and video games. His wife was good with sitting in the sun and reading a good novel. So, when it came time for the hike, he usually did it alone. That was okay. He was good with it.
On a particular vacation, somewhere in the Midwest, they arrived at the motel later in the afternoon. After unpacking and getting settled, the kids, as usual, put on their swimsuits and headed for the pool with Mom behind them, current novel under her arm.
Bill, on the other hand, had discovered a short trail that led in a circle through the adjoining woods. The end of the path led right back to the motel.
He packed a light bag. It was only a mile so he should be able to do this nearly with his eyes closed. He would explore the longer, more difficult trails the next day. But this one would be a good evening exercise to get the weekend off to a good start. He told his family that he would be back in an hour or less and headed out.
On the way he realized that he had forgotten to take bug spray for mosquitos. After all, the woods are a good place for those nasty critters. He stopped at the motel gift shop to get a can and while there he saw some nice glow sticks. He thought the kids might enjoy playing with them after dark so he grabbed a few, paid at the counter and continued on his way.
The path was nice, but it was narrow and not marked as well as most trails, but with his experience it should be a breeze. However, the woods were denser than he had anticipated, and the evening closed in quickly. As it did, the canopy above didn’t allow the light from the moon and stars to get through. It was nearly as dark in there as any cave he had been in.
He felt in his pack for a flashlight, then remembered that because he thought he’d be finished quickly, he had failed to take it. There was no way he could see the narrow path to finish his hike and he feared that, even with all his experience, he might set out in the wrong direction and become lost, going the wrong way through the woods.
What was he going to do now? This was embarrassing to an experienced hiker such as he. How would it look if he had to call his wife to get an emergency team to get him out?
Suddenly, he remembered the glow sticks he had purchased for his children. He quickly grabbed one and gave it a jerk to turn it on. There was light! Not much, but just enough to see a few feet in front of him. He could see the path. He could not see more than 10 feet beyond, but he could take it one step at a time, little by little, and before long, he emerged at the other end, thankful for glow sticks! He decided then and there that a handful of these useful items would become a staple supply for future hikes.
Psalm 119:105 reads, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The entire chapter, which is the longest chapter in the Bible, records in each of its 176 verses, something that has to do with the word of God. This particular verse indicates our human experience much like the story of Bill in the woods.
You see, life is like a path through a dense, dark place. There are times we can’t see the path we are on. It might become difficult and the terrain threatens to swallow us up.
We may panic for fear. We may feel hopelessly lost, and helpless in our life-situation. We don’t know what to do, where to go, or who to trust. We ask ourselves, “Where are we going in this life? What will be our end? To whom shall we turn?”
That’s where we need God. That’s where the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ, becomes the guidance, the light, that we need to get us through. He will shine that light before us. We may only see one step at a time, or perhaps a few feet in front of us. But in faith, we take one step at a time. We trust God in our situation and He will get us through the dark places of our lives.
Where am I going? Wherever it is, with the lamp to my feet, and the light to my path, Jesus will help me get there one step at a time, just when I need to be there, and in the right place at the right time. He will do that for each of us. All we must do is to allow the provision He made for our salvation to permeate our lives, to make Him our Savior and Lord, and He will turn the lamp on.
Oh, and back at the motel? He will leave a light on for you.
—————
Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit spiritbread .com to download these and more completely free of charge.
Bill loved hiking. New trails, rough terrain — the harder, the better. If it involved some climbing, he was good with that. If it was through a swamp, he had the hip boots and equipment for that too. He was simply passionate about being in the outdoors and experiencing nature to the fullest.
His family, on the other hand, didn’t share his compassion. The kids preferred the pool and video games. His wife was good with sitting in the sun and reading a good novel. So, when it came time for the hike, he usually did it alone. That was okay. He was good with it.
On a particular vacation, somewhere in the Midwest, they arrived at the motel later in the afternoon. After unpacking and getting settled, the kids, as usual, put on their swimsuits and headed for the pool with Mom behind them, current novel under her arm.
Bill, on the other hand, had discovered a short trail that led in a circle through the adjoining woods. The end of the path led right back to the motel.
He packed a light bag. It was only a mile so he should be able to do this nearly with his eyes closed. He would explore the longer, more difficult trails the next day. But this one would be a good evening exercise to get the weekend off to a good start. He told his family that he would be back in an hour or less and headed out.
On the way he realized that he had forgotten to take bug spray for mosquitos. After all, the woods are a good place for those nasty critters. He stopped at the motel gift shop to get a can and while there he saw some nice glow sticks. He thought the kids might enjoy playing with them after dark so he grabbed a few, paid at the counter and continued on his way.
The path was nice, but it was narrow and not marked as well as most trails, but with his experience it should be a breeze. However, the woods were denser than he had anticipated, and the evening closed in quickly. As it did, the canopy above didn’t allow the light from the moon and stars to get through. It was nearly as dark in there as any cave he had been in.
He felt in his pack for a flashlight, then remembered that because he thought he’d be finished quickly, he had failed to take it. There was no way he could see the narrow path to finish his hike and he feared that, even with all his experience, he might set out in the wrong direction and become lost, going the wrong way through the woods.
What was he going to do now? This was embarrassing to an experienced hiker such as he. How would it look if he had to call his wife to get an emergency team to get him out?
Suddenly, he remembered the glow sticks he had purchased for his children. He quickly grabbed one and gave it a jerk to turn it on. There was light! Not much, but just enough to see a few feet in front of him. He could see the path. He could not see more than 10 feet beyond, but he could take it one step at a time, little by little, and before long, he emerged at the other end, thankful for glow sticks! He decided then and there that a handful of these useful items would become a staple supply for future hikes.
Psalm 119:105 reads, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The entire chapter, which is the longest chapter in the Bible, records in each of its 176 verses, something that has to do with the word of God. This particular verse indicates our human experience much like the story of Bill in the woods.
You see, life is like a path through a dense, dark place. There are times we can’t see the path we are on. It might become difficult and the terrain threatens to swallow us up.
We may panic for fear. We may feel hopelessly lost, and helpless in our life-situation. We don’t know what to do, where to go, or who to trust. We ask ourselves, “Where are we going in this life? What will be our end? To whom shall we turn?”
That’s where we need God. That’s where the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ, becomes the guidance, the light, that we need to get us through. He will shine that light before us. We may only see one step at a time, or perhaps a few feet in front of us. But in faith, we take one step at a time. We trust God in our situation and He will get us through the dark places of our lives.
Where am I going? Wherever it is, with the lamp to my feet, and the light to my path, Jesus will help me get there one step at a time, just when I need to be there, and in the right place at the right time. He will do that for each of us. All we must do is to allow the provision He made for our salvation to permeate our lives, to make Him our Savior and Lord, and He will turn the lamp on.
Oh, and back at the motel? He will leave a light on for you.
—————
Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit spiritbread .com to download these and more completely free of charge.
