|
The
ROAD
Less Traveled
"If you don't know where you're going - any road will take you there."
(anonymous)
Years ago, when my husband, Kim, and I had the luxury of time, we used to enjoy loading our horses in the trailer and taking off for a week of nothing but glorious trail riding. I relished the thought of riding my horse to my heart's content, spending long evenings around the campfire eating roasted marshmallows, and endless days with no dishes to wash. Such was the case the year Kim and I headed off for a week-long organized trail ride. We knew there would be hundreds of riders arriving from all over the country for the ride, and since I was taking a new 3 year old gelding who had "never been to town" (i.e. never been on a trail), we made the decision to go a few days early in order to acclimate my horse to the surroundings. After a day or two of trekking up and down endless trails, my young palomino paint horse, Jesse James, was riding like a seasoned old pro. I felt confident that we would be "good to go" when the time came for the big ride.
 It's strange, but well-marked, narrow trails are seldom crowded!
A few days after our arrival, other trail riders started arriving from every state imaginable. By then, I had ridden so many well-worn trails, I felt like a crusty old veteran. People busied themselves with setting up camp. There were pop-up tents, wagons, horse trailers, and even RV's. The party was on! At last, the first day of the official trail ride arrived. My saddle bags were securely strapped to the saddle and filled with enough sandwiches, cold drinks, and cookies to feed a small army. I had even packed a handy compass, some extra latigo, extra socks (who knows - don't ask me why), and even a small emergency first-aid kit, just in case. I stroked Jesse's long golden mane and thought to myself, this is going to be a piece of cake.
A few minutes later, the trail boss at the start of the line gave a shout, "Saddle up, people, and let's head out!" One by one, we rode our horses quietly out of the campground. And then I noticed something odd. Leaning to the side of my horse, I whispered over to Kim who was riding his quarter horse, Kiowa, "Why is that trail boss on a mule, and carrying a big machete?" And then, suddenly, the trail boss took a right turn and headed down a new trail that I had somehow missed before.
Happy me (the crazy peroxide blonde years) with my 3 year old horse, Jesse James (left) and Kim's horse, Kiowa (right) on our infamous trail ride.
Me and Jesse enjoying some refreshing water. We had lots of crazy adventures during the week-long trail ride which I've written about before (i.e. our sudden descent down a steep mountainside, our fall in a deep ravine, and Jesse's run-away gallop). The good news is, we not only survived every challenge, - but we discovered the beauty of the trail less traveled!
It didn't take long for me to realize that I had been riding Jesse on all the wrong trails for days. Surely, there must be some mistake. "Excuse me, Mr. Trail Boss, " I called out loudly from near the back of the line, "I think you're on the wrong trail!" Without saying a word, the next thing I knew, the trail boss headed his mule straight down a steep and narrow path. He swung his handy machete back and forth skillfully clearing the brush and over-grown limbs before us. Meanwhile, his trusty mule never stumbled or missed a step. Deep inside, I was thinking that surely we could have taken an easier trail, perhaps like the ones I had already traveled. Those trails had been wide and expansive, with lots of room to accommodate everybody.
Instead, I found myself riding down an old, narrow trail, following this would-be Paul Bunyan. It was obvious from the start that the trail we were on had not been very popular with folks. It was overgrown in some places, and few traces of hoof-prints could be seen. I watched with curiosity as one rider after another turned their horse around and headed back in a different direction, - perhaps to find an easier trail. No doubt, the trail we were now on would not be crowded. As we continued to ride, at times we found ourselves in deep, dark valleys where ominous shadows seemed to loom everywhere. Moments later, we would ride out into the sunshine and gallop our horses with renewed energy and fervor up a green-covered mountainside. No trail that I had ever ridden before compared with the beauty of this magnificent wonder-land. Later that evening when we returned to camp, I watched the smoke gently rise and fill the air from our familiar campfire, and I bowed my head and thanked God. He had sent us a trust-worthy trail boss with a sure-footed mule, and even a crazy machete, to clear the way to a beautiful new trail - a trail less traveled.
The Road That Leads
Home Is Narrow, Therefore
TRAVEL LIGHT
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
(John 14: 6)
Are you looking for the narrow road? Remember, excess baggage will always slow you down. Lose it, and travel light!
Like it or not, the Bible is black and white. It says what it means, and it means what it says. The above verse, Jeremiah 6: 16, gives us some insight into the Lord's understanding of human nature. First, He acknowledges the human experience of "crossroads". So, what is a crossroad? The dictionary definition of a crossroad is an intersection of two or more roads; a point at which a crucial decision must be made that will have far-reaching consequences.
Interestingly, God tells us that when we come to a crossroad, we should look around us, and then we should ask for directions. I could make a joke here and say that God obviously wrote this scripture specifically to women, since He surely knows a man would never stop and ask for directions! Alas, I'm skipping that temptation, or did I? Anyway...
Asking for directions is not wrong, in and of itself. It's when we ask the wrong person for directions that we get into trouble! Why? The wrong person always gives the wrong answer! Television and celebrity host, Oprah Winfrey, has made a career out of asking "celebrated people" which spiritual road one should take. Each person, including a few who claim to be Christians, have been delighted to sit down with Oprah and discuss the many roads to God, and they are always eager to share their "journey to enlightenment" with the multitudes who are watching via television. The truth is, it would only take one real man or woman of God to point Oprah and her followers/seekers in the right direction. And what is that direction? It is the direction that points directly to Jesus Christ - The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
There's Only One Way
Home
"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
(Matthew 7: 14, NIV)
I can't imagine a more beautiful place to call "home" than the one God has created especially for His children. The Bible says our real home is not here on earth, but with Him in heaven. But what if we don't know the way to heaven? When I was a little girl, I had no sense of natural direction. You could physically spin me around 3 times, and I would not know where I was. There were times when I would even get confused about which road to take when walking home from school. That same sense of "being lost and disoriented" is sort of what people feel like when they are looking for the right road to travel in life.
The dictionary definition of disoriented is - to be confused as to time or place; being out of touch.
God knew that there would be times in our life when we would feel disoriented. He also knew there would be people who would be genuinely lost. That is why God gave us a clearly designated road that would lead us safely home to heaven, and He gave that road a name. The name of the road has always been, and will always be, Jesus. There is no other road that leads home. Looking for the right road? Look for the narrow road. And nope, it won't be the popular road, so don't expect a crowd. Here's a hint...
It will be the road less traveled.
Natural Horse
Faith-Man-Ship
(Teaching biblical faith using horses)
ARE YOU READY FOR THE FAITH RIDE OF
YOUR LIFE?
To Learn More...
EMAIL US
ksworldmin@aol.com
*Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry and Natural Horse Faith-Man-Ship are protected by exclusive copyright, and are outreaches of Kim and Susan Klaudt World Ministries, Inc., a 501 (C) (3) not for profit ministry.
|
