The Straight and Narrow Way

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:11

We take a week of vacation each summer and go tent camping on the shore of Lake Saiko (West Lake). One of our activities is to ride bicycles the 10 kilometers (6 miles) around the lake. It has one hill on the opposite side from the campground but other than that it is fairly flat. For us “old” people it is just the right challenge.

This year there were a lot of racers training by riding lap after lap. There were also a large number of runners probably training for a marathon. Add to this two middle aged, out of shape, vacationing foreigners.

All of this activity takes place on the only road that circles the lake. This means there are motorcycles, cars, trucks, and buses. The road has no shoulders and a lot of blind curves. One side goes up the mountain and one edge drops straight down to the lake. Instead of a shoulder on the uphill side it has a drainage ditch just beyond the white line marking the edge of the lane.

On the last leg of the trip, while trying to gather enough strength to keep going, I was passed by a large bus. Normally cars and buses move over for cyclists but there was a vehicle coming the other way so there was no place for the bus to move to. I knew I had to ride straight in the only narrow space left. It was almost as if the bus was sucking me into it. It is hard to pedal and hold your breath but what a relief once it passed.             The bus was not trying to be a danger to me but circumstances made it so. The straight and narrow way was my only option.

God has and continues to show us the way we should live. It is often referred to as “The Straight and Narrow.” He knows where the dangers are and wants to keep us safe. This is not because he is a meany and wants to take all of our fun away or that He gets joy out of making life hard. Quite the contrary – He calls us to a life of joy in Christ.

We don’t always see the spiritual dangers that surround us but the Holy Spirit does. Because He is with us, leading and guiding, we can rejoice as we follow where he leads. Sometimes the straight and narrow way may seem exceedingly narrow and we may wonder why but we can breathe easy knowing that we are not alone.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for all of the times that I have not trusted You and chosen to avoid the path that You have chosen for me. I see dangers that are not there. Forgive me also for the many times when although I have followed You I have not trusted You to protect and guide because I don’t see the dangers that are around me. Teach my heart to rejoice in Christ more than I enjoy my circumstances.

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