Pathways

Click here to read Isaiah 26

One of the earliest images and references to Christianity was "The Way".  Our ancestors were known as People of the Way.  Which way you may ask?  The Way of following Christ.  You need only get a few chapters into reading any one of the gospels to know that the Way of Jesus is not a flat, smooth, cruising with the sun-roof down, and wind in your hair kind of pathway.  The Way of Jesus twists and turns, sometimes at such a dizzying rate, we may wonder if The Way of Jesus should be a new amusement ride at Disneyland.

Given that there are a lot of pathways in our lives to select from, given that lots of people today want us to follow them (which usually means giving money in some form or fashion), how will we know if the pathway we are on is the right one?

Usually when we are going down the interstate or highway, there is some sort of signpost to let us know we are on the right path.  The same could be said for Christianity, "The Way".  One of the earliest Christian historians was Tertullian.   He lived from 160-225 AD.  And one of his most famous descriptions of "The Way" and early Christians was, "Look how they love each other."  Love and caring and compassion are the signposts that let us know when we are on the path. When we are distant from those ways of caring we may have taken an exit ramp, and start to feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and think, "Well, I am no longer in Kansas, Toto!"

When Isaiah envisions a world where the pathway is smooth, straight, and level, on the one hand that sounds great.  How easy to navigate and make sure we stay on the path.  How re-assuring to know that we can see for miles and miles.  How...um...well to be honest, boring!  It would sort of be like driving across the state of Iowa.  To be fair, I am from Iowa, I grew up there, graduated high school and college from that state, and it is where my roots are.  But I have to tell you driving across the state is a bit of a snooze-fest.  Twists and turns, ups and downs do make life and trying to follow "The Way" interesting.  And while I do not wish for more twists and turns, I think part of what faith offers us is a way to keep looking for those moments of caring, love and compassion in the midst of times when the road is not smooth-sailing.

There is a time for traveling the smooth, level pathway and a time for dwelling on the mountain and a time to even be in the valley.  Our journey so far with Isaiah has led us through all three.  If you had to say today, where do you find yourself?  Are you on a mountaintop of joy?  Are in the valley of despair?  Are you in a place where you can see for a thousand tomorrows to come?  Are you in a place where a recent twist or turn left your head spinning?  Sometimes just knowing where we are on the path can help.  Sometimes just knowing where we are on the path can even help us sense God's grace.

The powerful part of Isaiah is he suggests God is with us, not just when the road is easy, but in times when the walls have come tumbling down.  And everywhere, every place in-between.

I pray where ever you find yourself this week, that the image of the Way might help you respond with a compassion, care, and love that connects us to our ancestors and helps us realize the presence of the One we still follow today.

Blessings and peace!