Path Of Least Resistance

We received the recall letter many months ago.
We were told that the company would notify us when the part was available.
We were instructed to make an appointment with the service department at that time.
I felt a little uneasy when I read what part was being recalled.

A fuel pump on my mini van needed to be replaced.
I envisioned all sorts of things when I read that letter.
My husband assured me that there was nothing to be concerned about.
The car company knows of the potential problem and is taking steps to remedy it.

This was the day I was to bring my car to have the recall repaired.
My husband drove his car and I followed him to the dealership.
I made the appointment a few weeks ago.
I drove into the service bay as the doors opened when I approached.

We were met by a kind young man who wrote down the mileage on my odometer.
Masks were required.
I gathered my sunglasses and a few things that I did not want to leave in my car.
I handed him the control to my key-less entry as we walked into the service department.

They will replace the fuel pump.
They will do the 15,000 mile service even though I only have 13,000 miles on my car.
They will call us when they are done.
We will not be able to pick the car up until after my husband’s work day is finished.

We walked out of the service area and looked at some of the new cars.
Neither of us are in the market for a car.
We walked to his car that was parked along the side of the building.
I saw something in front of me as I fastened my seat belt.

There was an orange construction cone in front of the parking space.
It is probably there to block one of the service bays if needed.
What struck me about this particular orange cone was the top.
A vine was growing through the cone and was spilling out over the top.

I got out my phone and took a picture.
My husband laughs at the things that interest me.
I admit that I’m always noticing the most random things.
I notice them and think about them later.

The path of least resistance came to mind.
It is choosing the easiest way to do something instead of trying to choose the best way.
A vine growing out of the top of a construction cone is not the best way for the vine to flourish.
It is apparently the easiest way for the vine to grow, for a while.

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke 8:4-8)

I thought of Jesus’ parable as I pondered the vine growing in the cone.
This vine was not growing in good soil.
This vine will die simply because it took the path of least resistance.
The vine needs to have deep roots in good soil in order to flourish.

So do we.
We must not take the path of least resistance where our faith is concerned.
We must not take the easy road, which makes it appear that we have abundant growth.
If we have no roots, at the first sign of trouble, our faith will wither.

We need the good soil of God’s Word.
We need to be watered with Living Water.
We need Jesus, the Light of the World to shine His Light on us.
We need the Holy Spirit to nourish us and sustain us.

Our faith cannot take the path of least resistance.
It may seem like the best thing to do for the moment.
However, if we want to flourish and grow with roots down deep, we need to be diligent.
We need to plant the seeds of God’s Word deep in our heart.

I don’t want construction cone faith.
I don’t want a faith that looks good but has no roots.
I don’t want to be all show but no substance.
I want to go deep with God and His Word and flourish.