The Narrow Road

I had to go to the little college town that is near my home.
It is a quaint town, with brick sidewalks.
Walking on the sidewalks demands careful attention.
None of the sidewalks are even; tree roots pop through at very awkward places.

Parallel parking is all one can do; unless you want to pay for a parking garage.
This little town houses the county courthouse.
A few parking garages are near the courthouse for people who have to come and go.
I always choose to park on the street and walk to my destination.

However, right now parking on the street is a challenge.
It is a challenge because of all the snow we have been getting.
Snow removal is quite tricky when cars are parked on the street.
Some streets are snow routes where cars must be moved so the plows can come through.

For those streets that are not snow routes, the plows do the best they can.
I had not thought about the parking situation until I was driving to the little town.
It was too late to turn back.
I decided to pray and trust that I could find a parking spot.

The streets in this college town are often one-way.
You have to make a square to get to where you want to go.
You have to make a square if you want to park on the same side as your destination.
I wondered what the parking situation would be when I got there.

I always turn at a particular golf course.
I take the road that runs parallel to the road that brings me into town.
The old stately homes are so wonderful to look at.
How I wish I could visit one or two of them and spend an afternoon in one of the attics.

The snow was piled up along each side of the road.
Cars that would normally be parked right against the curb, were now sticking out in the road.
I usually drive slow on these roads on a normal day.
This day, I was going at a snail’s pace.

This day, it seemed like everyone was out walking.
More ice was expected that evening.
People were strolling on the street next to the parked cars, which were next to the snow.
It left little room for a car to drive down the street.

This particular road was a two-way road.
I prayed that for the few minutes I was on the road, no on would come the other way.
That prayer was answered.
All I had to do was look out for the pedestrians, many of whom were walking their dogs.

An older man and woman were struggling to walk.
They were looking for an opening to get on the sidewalk.
Unless someone shoveled an opening in the snow mound, their way was blocked.
I passed them at a speed too slow to measure.

Down a bit further was a couple with a large dog.
There was no grass for the dog to use on the walk.
It was a dangerous drive.
Not because the roads were bad, but because the roads were narrow.

The snow piles on each side of the street were quite large.
With more snow in the forecast, I could not imagine where the new snow would go.
I feel sorry for the people who live there and have to park on the street.
The maintenance crews are doing their best, but they have to work with what they have.

I was amazed at how narrow the roads had become.
The two-way street seemed like one-way.
I knew I would have to pull over for an oncoming car.
There really was nowhere to go.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13,14)

We want wide roads.
We think they are safer.
We see many people traveling on them.
We are certain they are best.

Kingdom living is opposite of worldly living.
Wide roads, on which everyone is traveling, are not Jesus’ way.
The narrow roads, on which few are traveling, is the way that leads to Life.
Jesus said that only a few find that way.

I thought of Jesus’ teaching on the narrow road after I got back on the main road.
Gone were the snow mounds.
Gone were the parked cars sticking out into the street.
Gone were the people trying to walk their dogs.

Instead, it was smooth sailing.
It was all clear.
I could drive these roads on auto-pilot.
I could drive with a looser grip on the steering wheel.

Actually, it was good to take care on the narrow road.
It was good to drive at a snail’s pace.
It was good to carefully pass the walkers and dogs on the road.
I was intentional as I drove with care and clarity.

Coming to Jesus is not about the wide, easy road.
Coming to Jesus is the narrow road on which we will not see many travelers.
We take the narrow road with care and with clarity.
We are intentional in our travels.

The narrow road is the way to Life.
The wide road, that beckons to us so easily, is the way to destruction.
Debris and obstacles are pushed to the side of the narrow road.
We have a clear path, albeit a narrow one, to reach our destination.

Jesus is there.
Do you see Him?

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Journey on with intention, and focus on the Destination.