The Journey

I have explored a variety of tramping and walking tracks throughout our beautiful country.  I see our walk with God as having characteristics that compare with the path on a track.

God has a path for each of us to follow and sometimes that path takes us through meadows of flowers, with trees, creeks, and pools of water, with views of beautiful snowcapped mountains, and ankle-deep streams.

Sometimes in our journey with God it is fording deep rivers that just about sweep you away.  Sometimes it is dry rocky ground and scorching hot sun, and nothing much for the eye to see.  The vista of barrenness going on for as far as the eye can see.

Sometimes it is beautiful cool bush, with clear bird song, peace and quiet.

Sometimes it is climbing uphill, with rest and refreshment and a view from the mountaintop.  The thing is, you never get to the mountaintop without climbing.   We get tired and thirsty on the way, but the view is always worth it.

Sometimes we get to picnic by a thundering waterfall, or under a shady tree, and wherever you go there is always something different to see.

Sometimes it the track is beautiful but some bits are boring and tedious and you can’t wait to get to the end of it.  Some of it requires effort, and sometimes we find it almost too much.  Sometimes the track is easy and a delight.  God has chosen the path and we can either enjoy it, or endure it.  We can see what God has to show us, and look forward to what is ahead.   The path always goes on from the deep river, it always goes on past the dry and arid land.  But even in amongst the rocks, you can find a flat place to stop, sit and have a drink and snack, and marvel and the land around.  To pause for a moment and think about who made and why.

The path does not stop in the middle or peter out.  It always goes on to filful the purposes of God if we are willing to carry on along the journey.   And on the path we are always able to stop awhile and play in the meadow, or have a breather, or to admire the view or pick flowers.

In the hot dry places can always walk in the cool of the evening and pause for a moment to admire the sunsets. We do not need to be pressured or arduous. It is not a race against the clock. We can meander at our own pace. It is restful, like going on a tramp, may be uphill, but not a strain on mind or emotions
We do not need to be pushed along by others

Is 25:4 A shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat
On that journey, that path along the different places. When we come to the hot, dry places, God is the shade from the heat, and on the journey, when a storm comes, He is our shelter – our covering
He is between us and the storm
Ex 14:19-20 The angel of God stood between the people and the enemy
God brought darkness to the enemy to disadvantage them so they could not see, and He brought light to His people to help them and bring clarity to their path and what they were doing.