There are so many paths one can take in life and these paths often lead you to other places – some good and some not so good. I’ve always been intrigued by all the different paths we can take. Some are rocky. Some are smooth. Some wind through the forest, while others are straight down the highway. Some take you to faraway places, while others lead you back home. Yet amazingly each path has its own particular beauty to behold and a lesson to be learned when you decide to take it.
I have always been in love with nature and have loved hiking and taking pictures of His magnificent creation. Even though my health has brought some obstacles in itself and my endurance is sometimes lacking, I still figure out ways to enjoy as much scenery as I can get in. I especially love the road less traveled.
Through the years though I’ve realized some of the paths I’ve taken weren’t easy. In fact, many times I had to stop and rest just to keep going. But even in the hardest moments when I’ve felt defeated, God has given me strength to get up and keep going.
However, this year has proven to be even more difficult for me in several ways. It’s not just been physically exhausting, it’s been emotionally exasperating with my health holding me hostage to the point I want to scream – ENOUGH ALREADY!
February is a hard month for me now. Even though it’s a month that I get to celebrate my mother’s, my niece’s and my husband’s birthdays, it’s also a month that I miss my second mom, Melba’s birthday and my daddy’s birthday. He would’ve turned 81 Feb. 11 but instead he left us all when he was only 67 which is still way too young to me.
It’s hard to believe my dad has been gone for over 14 years now. It’s surreal that I still miss him every day in some way. Not only do I miss his advice, I have missed his sense of adventure too. He always enjoyed road trips and outside adventures too. He really enjoyed the view from the highest point, often taking us kids to lookouts when we were on vacations. So I guess from heaven’s perspective, he now has the absolute best view. Unfortunately though, it was hard to let him go on ahead of me. It’s like he traveled around the bend where I couldn’t see and I’ve been trying to catch up with him ever since. So maybe this is why I often find myself walking down God’s mystical path, searching for answers that still seem out of sight sometimes.
Yet it’s been down some of the loneliness paths that I’ve taken, that oddly I’ve found peace with God in the quiet places of my heart. Yes, I’ve found Him down the winding path in the stillness of a lake’s reflection, even in my own reflection that often reminds me of my father’s. I’ve found Him in the cool waters that I can wade in when I’m thirsty and dry. I’ve found Him in the beauty of the wildflowers that dance across His palette coloring the landscape. I’ve found Him in the snow-capped mountains and the billowing clouds overhead that my daddy taught me to look for animal shapes in. I’ve also found Him in the stars, which my father was especially mesmerized by, as we laid out on top of the hood of our car and tried to count them all.
Back then my daddy would say, “Come on, it’s time to get some rest.” Now, it’s my Heavenly Father that’s saying “Rest for a moment, my child, but then get up and keep walking this path called life.”
Many of the paths I’ve taken have led me in wrong directions, but thankfully my Father God has always shown me the path back to home and to Him.
Oh the many paths I have taken and the many paths I’ve still yet to take! He shows me the beauty of this journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s made me understand the 23rd Psalm so much deeper.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
We all get to choose our own paths in this life. May we choose wisely and choose to see the beauty down every bend until we reach our final destination.
