When I received my cancer diagnosis and we found that I would need radiation and chemotherapy before having surgery to remove my tumor, my husband began walking with me and the Danes twice daily, weather-permitting, to keep my heart healthy for surgery. Our community has many well-groomed walking trails, but Paul began cutting a trail through land we own adjacent to our home. He knows I enjoy the woods in every season as much as he does, so this became our oasis in this desert season.
I continued walking with him faithfully through radiation and I made it through the first few weeks of chemotherapy, but there were days when I could not make it to the top of the driveway without assistance. During those weeks when my body required only rest, he walked the dogs at a much quicker pace than I was ever capable of. I’m certain those walks were as healing for him as the resting was for me. It was from that winter when he plodded that trail, limb-loppers in hand, that our current trail emerged. As we walked just yesterday, he lagged behind every few feet, saying, “moving one stick at a time keeps it from becoming overgrown again.”
He’s right. We see deer trails meandering through the underbrush and he and the pups have actually walked up on deer bedded down. All this evidence of life would disappear into the underbrush if we neglected our walks. The trail would quickly become overgrown.
“The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.”
Proverbs 15:19 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.15.19.MSG
At first glance, you might read this proverb as I did initially. The diligent walk along a path that is smooth. Smooth sailing. Easy going. And in a way, we do, but I think the more accurate understanding is diligence “walks down” the path, regularly, steadily, like the deer through the woods.
We see green brier stems about a foot high attempting to reclaim our trail. The tips have been nibbled and they are never able to grow above this height for the deer, whose tracks cross-cross our path. At one point where the water runs downhill, the path forks. Left leads slightly uphill to our trail while right continues several yards before dropping off abruptly into a ravine. Once the trail was completed and I was able to walk the loop again, I was unsure of where to turn at this juncture. The dogs know the way, so I followed them.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 16:25 NIV
https://proverbs.bible/proverbs-16-25
The book of Acts repeatedly refers to the early church, the first Christ-followers, as the Way. Jesus is responsible for this name. He called Himself the Way.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NIV
“I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”
Proverbs 4:11-15, 18-19, 25-26 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.4.11-26.NIV
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalms 119:105 NIV
https://psalm.bible/psalm-119-105
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.3.5-6.NIV
“The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”
Isaiah 26:7-8 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.26.7-8.NIV
Precious Jesus,
I believe that You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life as You claim. You lived a perfect life, leaving an example for me to follow. You prepare a way for me to take, but the path is not always a smooth one. It is then that I find comfort in Your Presence. I find direction in Your Word when the path is uncertain. You hold me when I cannot take another step. You comfort me with Your Love. You lead me in the everlasting Way.
Help me to walk worthy of Your call all the days of my life and may all who come behind me find me faithful.
Thank You, precious Jesus. I love You.
Amen.
https://youtu.be/eERKnxzNzwg Steve Green FIND US FAITHFUL
A Fitting Reply 
What a wonderful analogy, thank you for your gift of writing and sharing your heart!
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