The Narrow Way

Dusty and I had a wander this morning, through a field, then reversed our usual walk, which I suspect the old dog finds a bit boring. It was spiced up this morning by the sighting of three deer loping away from us, which excited a burst of speed from geriatric Dusty and a smiling wag of the tail as they leapt out of sight. 

We continued our wander down a recently formed track which went nowhere, so turned back and eventually found ourselves on the ‘fort’ track – so called because the boys used to play in the broken down cottage there which they called the fort. (In our neighbourhood there is also the Forest of Endor, the Haunted House, the Enchanted Forest, and Skirmish. What a paradise in which to raise 3 boys – the girl didn’t find it so exhilarating!) 

Anyway, this blog entry is getting a bit meandering too! Back to the Fort track, which, after passing the fort, eventually opens into a marshy field. Turning to the left, if you know where you’re going, you can just about make out a narrow way.

This path takes a sharp bend left before slipping through a broken down bit of stone wall and veering right, then left again and hugging the tree line of the next field. The track is almost invisible. The game keeper on the estate used to use it – there was a thorny gorse bush in the way for awhile which he took a saw to, thankfully – but he’s not out here so much any more. Doesn’t seem to have the same interest in pheasant shooting that he used to. The Germans maybe don’t come so much any more – but that’s another story.

Back to my narrow track. I wonder if only Dusty and Don and I follow it now, and that made me wonder if it will completely disappear when we cease to tread these tracks. 

The metaphor is obvious. I wonder if anyone is following in my tracks – or if they are so obscure and lead through so many thorny obstacles that others have taken to the wide open fields and plains. I wonder how fast the track I am cutting through life will become overgrown and disappear after I stop walking in it.

Psalm 119 has a lot to say about God being a light to our paths and showing us the way. His way won’t ever overgrow and disappear, and he goes in front of us and – if he doesn’t always remove the thorny bushes – he helps us navigate them. 

I don’t know how I’d have got through life without him. It’s been a great life – so far – in so many ways, but like everyone’s there have been thorny bushes aplenty. 

One day he will come with his saw and cut them all away. Then we’ll know we’re in heaven.