The Fork

Some friends and I were hiking to a waterfall and we came to a place where we could either pick the green trail or the red trail. In color coding terms, red meant very much a challenge. Wanting the full waterfall experience, we decided on the red trail which was not much of a trail at all. We stared up the side of a mountain that had loose tree roots and a few raggedy ropes hanging down. This was definitely the path of more resistance, yet we were so excited knowing that an unforgettable adventure awaited us.

It is easy for me to choose the red trail option in nature because I know that path holds treasures that those who take the green trail will never experience or enjoy. However, when it comes to my walk with Jesus, I find myself frozen and staring at that fork in the road, the divide that separates the easy from the hard. As I evaluate some big decisions coming up, I think back to the waterfall trails. One path is clean, paved, and less demanding on the body. The other path involves pulling myself up by tree roots that hang over the mountain, dripping in sweat, and swatting bugs and vines out of my face. But this way is also full of stunning vegetation, eye-catching birds, and natural emerald green pools that I'm convinced God created just to see us smile. I think the paths in life tend to work the same way.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:14 that "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it". There are lots of different roads we can choose to travel in life. I'm only 24, but from my experiences here on earth so far, the old saying has held to be true: nothing worth having comes easy. Good things take time. The trail Jesus invites us to follow him down will be undoubtedly harder than the "green trails" that life has to offer, but the narrow path will satiate our souls by allowing us to get closer to Jesus and experience his abundant love in new ways.

I don't know what fork in the road you are facing today, but I want to encourage you that even when it seems too hard to be worth it, choose the narrow road that leads to life. As followers of Jesus, we aren't supposed to fit in or follow the crowd. Doing what others are not often leaves me feeling insecure and tempted to compromise just to be accepted. Fair warning: following Jesus will get lonely. Traveling the narrow road will be messier and will take longer. But I am convinced that when I get to the end, I would choose the narrow road over and over again. The cuts, bruises, and sore muscles to get to the waterfall were worth it. I know that at the end of our journeys with Jesus, we will be able to say the same about the difficult parts of our lives. All of it was worth it.

Keep the end in mind. Remember where you are going. Fill yourself with truth that reminds you why the narrow road is worth it. Don't forget to count the costs. It is ok to be upset and mourn and grieve those losses as you face them. Just don't forget the beautiful hope of perfect communion with God that awaits those who are faithful and persevere.

And as for the waterfall, well, not one of us at the end regretted taking the harder path.