The Way, The Truth, The Life

I am standing at the foot of the mountain, looking at the narrow path weaving it's way up. It looks treacherous. Rocks, mud-pools, fallen trees and limbs make it difficult to climb. It seems almost impossible to make the way up to the top, but I have to. I want to...I need to. The reward is a beautiful scenery, beyond anything I have ever seen. Even beyond my comprehension of what beautiful is.

I am a little afraid but I start out, slowly and carefully, watching where I put my feet and aware of everything around and in front of me. Every now and then I look back and see the progress I made. All is going well and the security in myself grows and the pride, of what I have already accomplished, wells up in me. I become reckless and start to climb faster, paying less attention to what is ahead and what I am doing. I ignore the warning-signs by the side of the path urging to go slow because of stumbling blocks. Hey...I have passed those already many times and all went well. Impatiently and overconfident I take a few quick steps. My foot hits a rock and I loose my balance. I tumble down the path, trying to grab on to anything to stop my fall, but in vain.

Suddenly the fall is over. Bruised and scratched I lay there, trying to determine where I am and what happened. I find myself having to start all over again. But what is worse, I discover I knocked over and pulled down several people who were climbing as well and their injuries are worse then mine. I get back on my feet and try to attend to the wounded, for I feel guilty. But that is a consequence of my recklessness and pride and does not solve the problem.

I gather up the courage to start again, paying attention to several warning-signs and getting a little further. But I make the same mistake and down hill I go, taking everyone with me again. This happens several times and I must be insane not to learn from my same mistake. My confidence is down to nothing and energy-wise I run on empty, but I can not give up. I go again, determined and committed to make it to the top. Slowly this time, praying for patience and strength, heeding all the warning-signs, stopping along the way to enjoy God's blessings, for the path has so many wonderful things to offer as well. Until I reach the top of the mountain and have that beautiful reward!

We all climb the mountain of life. We all have our pit-falls and stumbling blocks. But we also know there is only one way to overcome them and to make it to the top. God saw to that:-)

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.