Living GRACE-fully

Several years ago, I attended the St. Laurence Catholic Church Women’s retreat at Camp Allen.  After a meeting with my spiritual director, I went on a walk in the woods, as she had suggested.  What I really wanted to do was sit quietly in my favorite spot, a rocking chair on a porch with a beautiful view.

 Jesus had other plans. 

As I left the chapel where I had my meeting, I came across a small trail leading into the woods.  I felt a nudge to walk that trail.  I had absolutely no idea where the trail went or how long it was (just like my life).  I began walking into the woods, then walked right back out thinking there is no way I am walking this narrow trail in the woods, by myself, having no idea where it is going or what sort of critters I will find (Yes, I am a BIG chicken!). 

As I walked away, I again felt Jesus pushing me back towards that trail telling me to just trust Him. 

So I thought, fine, if that is what he really wants me to do, I will.  I walked into the woods for about 10 steps, found a perfect spot on an old bridge and planted myself there.  I opened my Bible and started reading, thinking, ok God, I’m here, so what is it you want to reveal to me?

‘Go deeper.’

 Great….I knew what He meant, so I stood up, gathered my things and started on my hike through the ‘scary’ woods.

As I walked, He just kept telling me to go deeper and trust Him.  Walking along, it finally hit me what he was revealing to me.  He was showing life’s path.  I like to be in control of things, so of course, I always want to know where He is leading me, what path He wants me to follow, why, how etc. 

He began by revealing to me that the path is already out in front of me. 

I don’t have to know the big picture, where it ends or what will happen along the way.  It became very clear to me that all I need to do is follow that path second by second, trusting in Him.  Some parts of the path, I could barely see which way to go.  I couldn’t see beyond the trees around me. The path was so narrow that I wasn’t even sure I was on the path anymore.  Some parts were very clear.  The analogy he revealed to me was so beautiful.  Sometimes it is not always clear, but the path IS there. 

It is all about trusting Him and just taking a step. 

When you are on the right path, you feel peace.  If you deviate from the path, that is where you find trouble, fear and so many other things that are not His will.  As I walked, at times I was scared because I had no idea where I was going and was all by myself (again, big chicken!).  It was then I realized that I wasn’t walking alone, but that Jesus was walking with me and I felt at total peace.  He showed me so much.  The broken trees I saw were me when I have been broken.  The bridges I walked over were Him carrying me over the dangerous waters of my life. 

I finally came across a women coming from the other direction and she told me that the trail ended at the conference center (which was where my rocking chair was!).  Jesus showed me that this is just like the people who cross your path in life and help point you in the right direction…I have definitely had a few of those!

After about 45 minutes of walking, I finally came across some signs that showed me where the path ended.  As I finished my walk, the path became wide open and was so clear I received such a consolation that it brought tears to my eyes.  He revealed to me that this is what it is like at the end of one’s life.  The path becomes very clear.  Everything else is stripped away and the destination becomes so obvious.  I could then see the beautiful green grassy area in front of the conference center.  There was a bridge between the path and the conference center lawn.  This perfectly represented to me the gate to Heaven.  

A beautiful end to this walk was that as I passed over the bridge, my roommate (Susie), who I was just getting to know, was unexpectedly standing there and said “oh, there you are”, just like we expect our friends in Christ to greet us when we arrive in Heaven.

”I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk” (Psalm 32:8)