Helping Each Other On The Narrow Road

8/31/2022

“Because narrow is the road and difficult is the way which leads to life...”

I just needed to remind myself and all of us of this, this morning. Picture yourself walking on a very narrow road, and imagine what would happen over the course of miles and miles of walking on this narrow road, precipice on one side, sharp thorns on the other.

Do you suppose it would all go perfectly for miles and miles, days and days, years and years? What happens on a narrow road over time? Of course we know Jesus won’t let us accidentally fall off, but still, what would happen occasionally?

“Because narrow is the road and difficult is the way which leads to life...”

Don’t you think we have to allow for some mercy towards ourselves and others when the gravel gets a little loose on the narrow road or our focus has drifted slightly? Of course nonchalance, or lack of attention, or lack of appropriate fear, or cockiness, or delusion, is a different story entirely. But what about our recognition of that narrow Road changes our ability to help one another?

In those times of mercy, and helping each other...

Truth and Love

“Speak the Truth, in Love.” Truth without love... is not Truth. Likewise, love without Truth is not love. 10:49 a.m.

The verse “He who has been forgiven much loves much” keeps coming to mind. Because of God’s mercy and patience with me and the many times I’ve slipped and hurt Father and others and YET He forgives me and keeps me securely on the path -that Recognition motivates me to view and help others in the same way He has me.

I remember an instance when hiking where someone stumbled off a narrow trail into some brambles... what a blessing to have others right there to pull them out and back onto the trail, without having to mess with getting deeper tangled.

Also… last time with a bunch of guys in the Grand Canyon, the potential for at least one person to lose focus or to stumble seemed high. The choice for each person to “bind themselves” to someone else (both to serve and be served) seemed very Right and Effective.

This is what everyone said… but what I wrote is.

Our recognition of that narrow road makes us

1. Gracious toward slips or falls—our own and others’
2. EAGER to “bind ourselves” to others. To be there for them when they slip. Or to help direct when we have “been that way” (“watch that gravel there” or “watch that root in the path” or “don’t get distracted by the scenery and fall off the edge.”)
3. Incredibly grateful to have others with us on the journey because a) we have help to stay safely on the path and help us when we fall… and b) we can help those we love to not stumble and to help *GET each other to the Goal!*