Taking the Hard Path

“Listen my son and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.” “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways…” *

It was a perfect Saturday for fun in the snow, with all of the right conditions—the first being that the sun was out! It wasn’t too windy or chilly and the recent snow storm had provided for a good snow pack.

Always ready for adventure, our two youngest grandchildren came over to help build a snowman. It wasn’t long before a small skinny snowman with  a carrot nose, baby potatoes for eyes, a mouth and arms from twigs and buttons of stone was standing watch over the front yard.

 Afterwards, we took them to a nearby park so that they could spend the rest of the afternoon sledding. During the winter when the snow is deep enough, the hill in the center of the park is a great place for sleds, saucers and other vehicles.

On that particular Saturday, a good portion of our community all showed up with the same idea! Nate (11) and his younger brother, Elliot, hopped out of the car, grabbed their sled and saucer and quickly disappeared into the crowd of people all headed in the same direction.

By the time Al and I reached the hill, the boys were nowhere in sight. We strained our eyes trying to find them among the small figures sliding down the snowy slope. Then we spotted Nate sitting on his sled at the top of a run that had been carved out along the more rugged side of the hill. Not content to try the easier slopes, they had headed straight to the one that was the most challenging.

We stood at the bottom watching, while Elliot plunged over the edge on his saucer. It was a fast ride and looked bumpy. But should they be doing it? There were obstacles in the way and at the bottom of the run, a metal sign with hay packed around its base… a sure target for an out-of-control sledder. The boys didn’t seem worried at all.

As I stood debating this issue, their mom called on the cell, asking for directions to where exactly we were standing. She laughed when she saw that they had picked the most difficult side of the hill. “Of course!” she remarked.

Going downhill was one thing, but getting back to the top was another. Both boys struggled to get their footing on the icy slope, while aiming straight up the hill. We advised them to traverse so that they could access the same stairway the other kids were using to climb to the top. But that advice wasn’t heeded very often.

On one particular climb Elliot, following close behind Nate, started to slide. His feet went out from underneath him, while he grasped the slender branch of a shrub with one hand and tried to hold on to his saucer with the other. The saucer broke free and Elliot followed, sliding feet first until he landed spread-eagled at the bottom.

Undaunted he headed uphill once again. The more the boys used that particular slope, the icier it became. In the time it took them to struggle to the top by clinging to tree branches lining the course, they could have ridden down several times. It appeared to be the age-old challenge of “man against the mountain” or in this case, “boy against hill!” How long would it take to discover that even a small mountain wasn’t going to yield to the whims of two young boys?  

The hard path…how many times have you and I resisted God and chosen our own paths instead? Even while writing this particular story, I found it hard to trust that there would enough time to write, getting frustrated and annoyed when other things claimed my attention. Letting go of control is hard, isn’t it? However, it is in surrendering that we find freedom, peace, fulfillment and joy…all of those things which we desire in our hearts but cannot obtain on our own.

Dear Father, please speak to us about those areas of our lives which we need to surrender to you. Help us to do just that. May we always trust that you love us and that your ways are best. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 *Proverbs 24: 19 & 26a NIV