Ask For The Ancient Paths.

Sabbatical time in the woods, funded by a Lilly Endowment Grant for "re-connecting with God," has afforded me time to recognize myself in context. (And, yes, it is entirely possible for any of us to find ourselves in a state of untenable confusion - brought on by pace, unforeseen circumstance, relational disruption, emotional fatigue or moral turpitude - where we look at ourselves and wonder, "Who's that?")  

The clarity of my wilderness reflection makes two things plain:  

First, I can't do everything, so every path I take means I've abandoned all other paths. I can't be two places at once, so wherever I am, I should be there  -  really be there, engaged, invested and attentive or I'll not only miss the paths I didn't walk, I'll miss the one I'm on too!

Second, the local church God has ordained me to lead can do many things but not all things, so we'd be wise to chart our future along the ancient paths, where the good way is, so the people who join us on the journey will find rest for their souls.

A perspicuous poem we all memorized as kids says it this way:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

 -  Poem by Robert Frost  - 

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Jeremiah 6:16  -  This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it,  and you will find rest for your souls."  

Comments

[April Gann]

Mark- I just quoted your first reflection on my facebook wall. :) Wish we could have coffee and discuss all things sabbatical. I love the rhythm and beauty of the ancient paths. So thankful you've had this time for your soul. And that you're sharing it with us.

[Butch Whitmire]

Mark - welcome home and thank you for sharing this. I can't wait to hear all the stories, perspectives, and revelations you've collected while you were away. Your return will be a delightful and grand occasion. Blessings.