Lifeway Obstacles

The day is warm. The birds are singing their songs in the trees as the wind gently rustles the leaves. I feel a comfortable kinship with the forest. The sweet smell of fallen leaves, and the occasional brush of a spider web against my face. These sensations transport me to a place of refuge and joy. It is here that I can be alone with myself and alone with God.

I have traversed many a forest pathway in my life. When the stress of everyday living reaches a critical point, I have always resorted to this refuge, no matter where I have lived. Much have I learned from the forest. There is a life lesson in every stroll across the forest floor.

At times during these journeys, I have come to places where a tree has fallen across the pathway. Most of the time, these fallen trees are small and easily navigated around. There have been times however, that the obstacle was large and difficult to overcome. I could see the pathway continue its meandering course beyond the fallen barricade, but getting to it was a problem. It is here that one must decide if continuing the journey upon the path that one is on is worthy of the effort to overcome the obstacle.

The same principle holds true in our journey along our lifeways. Many obstacles will block our path. Many times situations dictate that we must make a decision; whether to overcome the obstacle and continue along our chosen route, or to change the course and blaze a new trail.

Choices; it is the choices we are obliged to make throughout life that order the direction of our lives. While the list of options is seldom a difficult thing to develop, deciding upon the best is always an exercise in presumption. Not having the ability to know what the future holds, we must weigh the known quantities and choose the best course. The best course is seldom the easy course, making the decision even more difficult. Choose we must though, for not choosing is surrender, and surrender should not be an option. To sit at the base of the obstacle, fretting over the fact that it is there, delays our progress on our lifeway. To delay or cancel our journey is unthinkable, for no matter the size of the obstacle, the energy expended to overcome is small price to pay for the joy that always lies ahead.

One must begin to look at the possibilities presented by each obstacle. Possibilities for personal growth, the satisfaction of overcoming adversity, and the character that is built with every victory. These are but some of the possibilities, but the greatest possibilities include the people that God puts at our side to help remove the obstacle and allow us continue our journey. His faithfulness is the sunshine that warms our life and lights our path when faced with the biggest opportunities for success.

Every obstacle we face presents an opportunity for success or defeat. The defeat comes only as a result of our surrender. The choice is ours, surrender and miss the joy God has in store for us, or fight until the victory is won. What will you choose?

Today, choose well.
Enjoy the Java
Jim