The Path

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."
-Matt. 7:13

Walking a down a narrow path is hard. Have you ever tried it? The smaller the path the more difficult it is to navigate. Your eyes focus on small opening ahead of you. You move through the trail trying hard not to scrap your arms or legs on brush alongside you, which occasionally throws your balance into check. Without fail you get scrapes and bruises, well at least I know I do. When my balance is in question you can bet that gravity usually wins. The longer you walk on this path the easier it is for you to wish it away. Long for the easy road. That wide open, paved pathway. Just there, waiting to take you to your destination, all safe and sound. And the one you dream of is always at a steady downhill slope, even if your going up. Yeah. Now that path sounds comfortable.

So the past few months, I've found that comfortable and let's face it "lazy" path that has led me away from consistency I allowed excuse after excuse to consume my reasoning and my reasoning always led me to believe that I could just miss this one and I would be okay. But one missed workout, led to another and another. They just started adding up. And before I knew it I was back into the habit of sitting around after work. Eating the wrong foods, way to much of them for that matter, and allowing my hard work to somehow drift off into the land of all for nothing.

Recently I started noticing. My clothes that were once starting to feel loose and baggy, where beginning to feel normal or even tight. My cute little chin was starting to look slightly double-ish again. And my sunny positive, life is going to be good attitude was diluted. I was reverting back to a me, that I no longer wish to be. I don't want to look back over the past year and say...I was on such a great roll. What happened? Why am I still right where I don't want to be? I was doing so very good!

So while lacking the actual motivation to stand up and say enough is enough, I decided enough is enough. I am going to make the most of this. I am going to take the first step. I can't just wait for the motivation to hit. I've got to stand up for what I want and run after it.

So that's what I did. I got back into the habit of working out with my trainer. I've started elipticising again. And food, let's face it, is my biggest weakness, but I am starting to eat healthier again. Slowly but surely I am looking at my path and it's right were I would like to be headed, even though it's not quite as comfortable as I would like it to be.

The same could be said for my relationship with Christ. I've been, as many say, "going through the motions." I've been a happy plastic individual. Just going to events and smiling. Not focusing on the one true reason I should be there. To worship a living God who will move through our body of believers to do great things for his glory. To let the world know that, this is the reason we are alive. Because a holy God died on a cross, bearing the weight of ALL OUR SINS! He took our shackles and punishment. He died so that I may live. My sorry little undeserving life.

So I end this post with a song. I've found that God is really good at speaking to me, through music. This amazing song by Brandon Heath is my anthem right now. It is where I stand. I will not settle for anything less than Gods best plan for my life. I can't. What's the point. All my dreams seem silly when compared to the plan that God has laid out for me. I could never dream as big as him. But I will do my very best to stay uncomfortable for his sake.

Comfortable, don’t get comfortable.
I am gonna’ move this mountain then I’m gonna move you in.

Yesterday, this is not yesterday.
You were standing on my shoulders now; you’re standing on the edge.
You’ve been looking for a sign all this time.

I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna love like you’ve never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
This is your new song

So afraid but you don’t have to be afraid
Even if you make mistakes
You know that I’ll remain
You’ve been looking for a sign all this time.
If you seek you’ll find me every time.

So I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna’ love like you’ve never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
This is your new song