As many of you know, I grew up in a small country town located in Conecuh County about 100 miles south of Montgomery. My Father was a farmer. One of my fondest childhood memories is walking barefoot and following the “cow trails” through the pastures on the farm. (I was “barefoot” from April – October at least.) For those who aren’t versed in farm life, cow trails are the paths the cows would walk throughout the pasture; traveling from the barn to the pond or various other points in the field. The path was about 12 inches wide and completely worn down by the cows constant treading back and forth from one destination to the next. You see cows, for the most part, follow each other and move as a group.
These cow trails contained smooth, soft dirt and felt good to bare feet. The pasture sometimes contained briars or those pesky “sand spurs” not easily seen until you stepped on a patch. So the cow trail was a welcomed relief to the unknown sticky, prickly things that lay hidden in the grass.
This morning as I was taking my walk in our neighborhood, along smoothly paved roads and side walk, I thought of my childhood years as I wandered through pastures following cow trails. Those cow trails kept many a sand spur out of my feet and following such paths was high adventure to a country boy like me. However, there was ONE THING you had to be on the look-out for while walking the cow trail,….”cow patties.” I think you can figure out what that was (droppings left by cows as they walked the path).
God’s Word often speaks of following/seeking His path (I Chronicles 16:10-11; Matthew 6:33) or His directing our path (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are admonished to follow His path because He has smoothed the way for us (just like the smooth ground of the cow trails). Get off the path and there are “hidden” traps that will hurt us much like the sand spurs. Also as we walk this journey there are other Christians traveling the same path and they may drop things along the way that aren’t too pleasant (cow patties). Don’t be deterred, keep walking! (Be reminded you probably are dropping snares for someone else to navigate as well.) Read Ephesians 5: 1-20. This scripture gives great insight on how we should persevere.
Ephesians 5 New International Version (NIV)
5.1. Follow God’s example,therefore, as dearly loved children 2. and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
During this time of interim as we look for a new senior pastor, may we follow the path laid out for us and journey together in love!